Introducing our one-piece frames into your hives - Beekeeping Supplies Protective Clothing Beekeeping Equipment

There are various methods for introducing our one-piece plastic frames with waxed foundation into a beehive. The methods vary based on application, different weather conditions, the floral sources, and the differing intensities of nectar flow. The following methods are being used successfully. Method 1 is usually effective when replacing frames in an existing hive box. Method 2 may be used either to completely replace an existing box’s frames or to equip a new box with frames. Method 2 is always used for new hive boxes where existing, drawn honeycomb is not available.

Method 1 – Intersperse with drawn comb
(for replacing frames in an existing hive box)
A method that is usually very effective for hive boxes with existing drawn honeycomb is to intersperse new frames with the existing frames. Preferably, insert three new frames in the 3, 5 and 7 positions, or you may even introduce up to 5 new frames in the 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 positions. The reason for preferring the 3, 5 and 7 positions is that sometimes the bees will be slower to draw wax out of the foundation on the outside of the super. We recommend feeding the bees heavily until the honey flows begin so they will start drawing out the new comb immediately. If you are not satisfied with the results from this method, replace drawn comb with new, waxed frames so that you are running 100% new frames (see Method 2 below).

Method 2 – Install a complete set of new frames
(for new hive boxes with no existing honeycomb)
For a deep brood box, fill it with 10 new frames. For a honey super, fill it with 9 frames using frame spacers or with 10 frames if you do not have spacers. This approach gives the bees no choice but to go to work and draw comb out from the foundation. Be sure to feed the bees heavily with sugar syrup after installation to stimulate comb building, preferably using a 1-to-2 sugar-to-water syrup solution (see Sugar Syrup - Uses and Preparation). Some beekeepers place drawn comb on either side of the hive box as bait comb. We are finding that more beekeepers are having excellent results with this complete installation method.

Summary
Do not be disappointed at first if you have some trouble getting your bees to accept and draw new foundation. Try variations of the above methods, be creative, and remember that colonies should be strong and healthy to expect them to develop new comb. It is difficult to get bees to draw new comb if they are under health, pest, or dietary stress. And remember that colonies must be consuming sugar, either from natural nectar flows or artificial (syrup) sources. They cannot produce wax without having some type of carbohydrate coming in.

When you receive your new frames, you may notice on some of the frames “dimples” extending from 7 or 8 of the cells on one side of the frame. This is normal, and will not interfere with your bees’ production in any way. Some of the newer frame designs require injection molding during manufacturing, and these remnant dimples are “leftovers” from that process. Please do not be concerned about these – the bees will build up the cell normally. Not only will these few dimpled cells still be used, but each of these frames has extra rows of cells, which increase the cell capacity in each frame over the old-style wood-frame/foundation combination.

	Special Notes
	DO NOT LEAVE PLASTIC FRAMES / FOUNDATIONS IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME.
	DO NOT PUT PLASTIC FRAMES / FOUNDATIONS IN SOLAR WAX MELTERS.
	DO NOT PLACE PLASTIC FRAMES / FOUNDATIONS IN BOILING WATER.
	IF YOU DO ANY OF THE ABOVE WITH YOUR FRAMES, THEY WILL WARP AND BECOME UNUSABLE, VOIDING YOUR 10-YEAR WARRANTY.