Mismatch between wooden nuc box with 8 Manley frames for a 10 frame brood box

Modifications & Building Bee Hives
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Hiya - new beekeeper. I’ve picked up a nuc that came in an 8 frame box and didn’t realise they were Manley frames (so not full depth). I have a 10 frame full depth brood box. What’s the best way to manage the difference in sizes?

  1. Keep the 8 Manley frames in the wooden box they came in and put my 10 frame brood box on top? (Use timber to block up gaps with overhang?)
  2. Put the Manley frames into the full depth brood box? (Would it be an issue that they’re not as deep?)
    Thanks! Morgan
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Welcome to the forum and beekeeping, Morgan.
I would transfer the short frames into the brood box. The bees will draw out wax to fill the space under the bottom bar. They’ll use it for brood or food as normal. Be gentle handling the frames with soft new wax. When you get varroa in TAS, removing capped brood below the bottom bar is a useful control method.

Mike

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Thanks so much @aussiemike. The beekeeper I got the nuc from suggested I keep the Manley box underneath and my full depth brood box on top and feed to get the bees have draw out the comb in the full depth box. But I’m not sure what I would then do with the Manley box - keep it there as a second brood box?

If I do as you suggested and put the Manley frames in the full depth brood box, would you recommend then gradually swapping out the frames for the full depth ones? If yes, is there a good guide on doing this?

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Yes, I’d cycle out the Manley frames eventually. There’s no rush. It’s good practice to cycle them out 2-4 frames a year. Old comb has a build up of many layers of cocoons making the cells smaller. I typically do four per season. It works as a swarm management tool too, giving the queen room to lay and workers comb building to do.
In nature, the bees abandon old comb leaving to wax moth to clean up while they use fresh comb. Eventually, they work their way back to the now clean original spot.
To cycle out, take the two outer frames and dispose of the manky comb. You can recycle the frame if still sound, although I wouldn’t bother with the Manley frames. Move the remaining frames outward except the centre two. Now place new frames with foundation or drawn comb such as stickies into the vacant spot next to the centre frames. When the new frames are laid out with brood, swap them with the centre two frames. If there’s more than two manky frames, repeat after the first two new frames are laid out with brood.
This is a spring/summer exercise during a flow. It takes a lot of energy to draw comb, so avoid cycling out frames during a dearth.
Mike

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