Hi! Just installed my nuc of bees on Saturday. The nuc I got came with plastic foundation frames. Is there any way to replace these now or do I have to wait? Even if I wait, how do I replace all five successfully? Thanks!
Hey Carolyn,
Drawing out new comb takes a lot of work and nectar(or sugar syrup), so I would wait until the colony is strong enough to add a super, then move one or two frames at a time of capped brood above the queen excluder into the super to emerge. Replace those frames with new frames of your choosing into the brood box. If you’re planning to go foundationless, checkerboard new frames between old frames to encourage the bees to draw straight comb.
When the new frames are drawn out and with brood, repeat the process removing the previous old frames which will probably now contain some nectar. This could be placed above the inner cover to allow the bees to “rob” it out, or if allowed in your jurisdiction placed outside the hive on the other side of the yard.
Mike