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Better Comb by BetterBee (Review), FAQ 32, Will Honey Bees Produce Brood in Better Comb?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.ค. 2024
- In this video, I answer FAQ 32
1) I would love to hear about your experience with BetterComb?
So, in order to test BetterComb by Betterbee, I first introduce you to the product and how I install it.
Then a swarm of bees shows up right on time for the testing.
I have placed BetterComb into four of my hives so far.
I show the install of the swarm and the follow up to share how and if the honeybees use this new synthetic comb.
The short answer is, yes, the bees to accept and use the pre-drawn honeycomb from BetterBee.
They have put resources in it, they have mended and altered it just as they would with their own beeswax.
Less than a month in they have larvae of all stages of development and are using the cells for eggs, nectar, and pollen.
I placed a torn sheet of synthetic drawn comb and I cannot tell where it was damaged. The bees clean, shape, and restore the synthetic comb just as they do with their own beeswax cells.
I'm an instant fan and definitely recommend BetterBee Comb. aka BetterComb.
If you want to learn more about the BeeSmart Design Cover and feeder, here is the video on that system • Ultimate Bee Hive Top ...
Here is a link so you can read further regarding the materials that are used to produce it:
Please tell them that Fred Sent You!
That way you can pay the same as anyone else (';') www.betterbee.com/foundation/...
YES! In response to those generous viewers who have asked how they can support my work, please follow this link: / 3494368
NOT for honey supers, only for brood boxes.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction
00:30 Unboxing BetterComb
01:15 Tooth Pick Insertion Mounting
01:46 Damaged Torn BetterComb
02:14 Honey Bees Swarming
03:01 Nasonov Glands
03:33 New Bee Hive Setup Components
03:51 Inner Cover
04:00 BeeSmart Feeder Cover
04:36 Spraying Swarm on the tree branch
05:25 Capture Swarm In Butterfly Net
05:50 Transporting bees to hive
06:15 Deep Frames Acorn and BetterComb
06:30 Dumping honey bees into the hive
07:00 Replacing Frames
07:45 Adding Straggler Bees
08:40 All new Acorn Frames no comb
09:21 Hive Top Feeder Installation
10:18 Swarm Install Complete
10:52 Bees Cluster on Hive Front
11:20 All bees inside the hive
11:32 Follow-up inspection
12:08 22 days after swarm installation
14:00 Bees working BetterComb same as wax
14:37 Fresh drawn comb on Acorn Frames
15:24 BetterComb with eggs and larvae in cells
17:40 Ready for supering
18:00 Insulated Hive Cover Installed
18:15 Final words on Better Comb
Holy SMOKE Fred! You must've caught half the US population of bees in the swarm, 😉 😆.
Great stuff, great video, thanks for posting.
🍺 🐝🐝 🇦🇺
Love this endorsement!!! I ordered a batch of 20 bettercomb about a month or so ago. I already put it in frames. Waiting until spring to add it to my new hives. Getting excited to see them in use in my yard.
Thank you Sir! 😃
I'm going to be using them instead of old drawn comb, I'm dumping my old deep frames, this just seems cleaner and since the bees go for it, that's a total thumbs up in my book!
It's a good thing we got ours early, they should catch up this winter.
I am happy I got mine early. I will order more this winter. But I’ve enough for two brood boxes right now. 😃
@@LarryLeesBees Good deal! It would be great if a swarm just showed up for you (not your bees).
Dan Ski's Bees - Indeed!!! LoL!!! 🤣
Whoohoo, there are going to be so many swarms saved now! Thanks Fred!
You're welcome Dan :) always great to see your comments!
Awesome, awesome video and situation. It is wonderful to see the full evidence of every frame, and to see the bees so enthusiastically and successfully working away. I know you'd rather not disturb them, but I really appreciate being given such a thorough view this once. Thanks very much!
Thank you!
UPDATE - this is now my first choice for hiving swarms, or making splits, orrr creating extra space to deter swarming. UPDATE ALSO do NOT use the toothpicks, you will want to put Better-Comb in Wired Foundation only! Toothpicks did not provide enough support and I no longer recommend using them. Always use wired supports of the comb can sag or fail during extraction. th-cam.com/video/f9WIEobHhNM/w-d-xo.html
Where do you get the insulated hive top?
@@seeyouonthemountainbeekeeping I get mine from betterbee, here's a link www.betterbee.com/beemax-hive-equipment/btoc1-beemax-hive-outer-cover.asp?mkwid=s&pcrid=271558724311&pkw=&pmt=&pdv=c&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvMK44ZXR5AIVGIvICh00fghIEAQYBSABEgJ6LfD_BwE
Thanks for this video. I love when you do swarm videos, I learn something new and different every time.
Thank you Mary!
Another great video Mr. Dunn. I'm going to look into this.
Excellent results!
I was in today checking the frames I added awhile back and they are now filled with stores and brood. Can’t wait till spring when I can use the rest of what I have with swarms.
Agreed Carl, I see them as an excellent advantage over stored pre-drawn used comb. The future will tell us more :)
Good deal Carl!
Better bees Better comb ~ Lovely endorsement !!! Always grateful, Fred ~
well done, easy to understand and a joy to watch, love me some bees
A very informative video. I might try using this next year when I install a package.
Good video I have been waiting for you to test it I have orderd some thank you
Great video Frederick . My son just started a box with Bettercomb he like it also . Keep the video’s coming. Thanks
That's great! and you're very welcome!
I really really like your product testing videos.
Thank you so much! More of those coming this spring and summer. Some equipment is in pre-release and other stuff we're just waiting on the right conditions.
I love these videos, thanks Fred.
You're very welcome.
Wow. Amazing I was totally skeptical of something like this actually working, but you have proved me wrong. This would work really well for splits or even new packages. Saves the bees a lot of time from having to draw out all that comb.
I have 3 late season swarm captures that are going to go into winter strong absolutely due to the advantage of these pre-drawn frames. BUT, several of my southern beekeeping friends have reported high temperature-sagging and some melting - northern keepers are not having that problem. Thanks for watching!
Well Dunn! great video, great info.
Another great video. Thankyou for sharing now to find this synthetic pre drawn comb in the uk. 💕🐝🐝
Susan, the manufacturer is in Hungary. www.hexacells.com
Please keep us posted on your success!
Look into Hexacomb, I think it's originally manufactured in Europe. I'm waiting for verification of that, but they seem to be selling in the U.S. through Betterbee, but originate in Europe.
You inspire me r
To bee better at 🐝 keeping and with TH-cam. Thank you.
Another amazing video.
Thanks John
I will add that it's a good option for splits too.
Aboslutely!
I used to love smelling the nasinoff juice in the air when a big ball of bees was upwind 😃 they can make a pine tree smell like a lemon tree 🤓😜 I treated myself to a vented bee suit yesterday and I picked up 4 packages of Georgia gentles this morning! Wish me luck!! I’m going to desperately try to not get stung in my new ventilated suit ! I really don’t want to miss two weeks of work from being stung😊
I hope it was a Guardian Bee Apparel vented suit :)
@@FrederickDunn it’s not guardian apparel but it’s heavy duty and of really good quality,the zippers work great, the Velcro is tight and I pulled 150 stingers out of it , so out of the first package of 10-12,000 bees 150+ stung my suit and gloves , I did take advantage of the dead bees laying around just to see if I could find mites , I didn’t find one mite . Ok back to the Queen, the Queen cage was open enough for bees to be in and out with the nurse bees and the Queen was piping like crazy and the bees were aggressive, also I thought I saw an unmarked queen, is it possible they could have dumped an unmarked queen when they funneled the 3lb package together? I really can’t wait to see what I find in hive -#1 especially
watching some vids id not seen,cant wait for spring
and in summer, watch the winter videos to cool down :)
I am always amazed that you are so brave around the sworm.. I see one or two.. and I freak out...🐝🐝
It's not very "brave", once you get to know the rhythm of the swarm, they are fun to be around. BUT, once you begin to manipulate them, be ready for those emotionally unstable individuals that just want to plant a stinger in your somewhere, anywhere... for no reason. :)
@@FrederickDunn I have a small paper wasp nest under my pool rail, I don't know what to do? Believe it or not, I feel bad destroying them, as they are living creatures. But I am unable to get near the pool to clean it, or even walking by it.. they attack... I am torn between allowing them to survive or not... I feel like its morally wrong to just destroy then... I know it sounds crazy.. but that's how I feel. What do you think I should do?
@@gemster18 Human health and well being should always come first. If they are under your pool rail and they threaten anyone coming near the pool, you should definitely remove them. They often get inside tubing or framework and become inaccessible. If they are the species that attack people, then rest assured, they are also honeybee predators. After they are gone, be certain to seal off that entry if they are inside a closed space. I've had them move into farm gates and that's also a no-fly zone.
@@FrederickDunn thank you Frederick, I hate the fact that I have to destroy them, but I understand
Great video Fred. Very interested in carrying this in my store in the future.
It's going to continue to be a hot seller particularly in the northern/colder States... many southern users have had problems with it melting and sagging. I've not have that problem and have it in 5 hives at the moment :)
Yep, I was seeing if my new queen was laying after 20 days. I got in there and saw drone cells, and uncapped larvae on one frame and I was like yep we are good here. Less than 5 minute inspection. lol
Definitely, get in and get out of there... particularly with colonies trying to build. :)
Hey Carlos, good deal!
Carlos Murphy - That’s fantastic Carlos!!! Good to hear! 😃
He is not worried if something is wrong. Another reason for an experimentation and observation. I should have used the predrawn comb when i started.
I used this comb when I first started out and it worked well. I will still use it if I ran out of natural comb and needed to house some swarms
Definitely great for emergencies :)
How sweet!
Hello Sir, i'm new to beekeeping with only 4 hives. I cringed when you added the inner cover and top cover in fear you were killing bees. May I suggest you add another "empty" brood or medium box on top of your bottom box before shaking the bees in. This should require no spray or removing racks to make room for the large amount of bees, then simply wait and hour or more and the bees should have gone down into the frames. Great video and I will respect your reply, as I continue to learn.
@Poison Ivy I like it--sounds like it's a good way to 'fence them in' until they get the idea of the new hive....then pull off the empty and substitute the lids.
Thanks for that suggestion, when I pulled the cover for filling the feeder tank, there were no smashed bees on the edges. I gently push them off and wiggle the inner cover slowly side to side as the bees move over. You would hear a crunch if the bees were trapped beneath and between those interfaces. Your idea is a good one, but it requires more material manipulation and more intrusion on the colony which can stress them. I try to set up the final configuration when possible. I have found that when I use the slatted racks at the bottom of the brood box, the swarm installation goes faster and the bees move down quicker. Than you for sharing your method, it sounds like a good one!
@@FrederickDunn Hey again Fred, i'm just thinking like this, you leave all your frames in the lower box and use a empty box on top as a funnel. Try it next time just for me !!
@@bo4638 You should make that video Bo :) If I start squashing bees, I'll certainly come up with a different approach.
Fred, thanks for answering my question! I too have installed Better comb in two of my colonies. I use all mediums, so I had to cut the comb to fit the frames and it was super easy to do. I installed them on the 15th of August and haven't really seen a lot of success yet. The girls have strengthened the perimeter around the frame and there is a little bit of use for nectar, but my queen hasn't laid in them yet. That in itself isn't a surprise, as the one colony has a lot of empty drawn comb, and the other has been queen-less and the new girl was introduced on Sunday. I expect that these are going to be a game changer once the bees claim them.
Since I had leftover from cutting the comb, I affixed the cutoffs on the top of other frames. My hope is to use them like starter strips. if this works remains to be seen, but I will find out at some point. Something I have been wondering about is if this stuff would work for cut comb honey. It is food grade, and therefore shouldn't be a problem, but I haven't tasted it to see if it adds a synthetic flavor. It would make beautiful cut comb from a visual standpoint though.
HI Bill, I don't think I would use it for cut-comb as, personally, we really want that to be a total "bee" product. The sellers recommend that we not eat it :) You're right though, it is beautiful stuff and we have the advantage of knowing it has no trace pesticides which seem to be present on almost all bee comb at this point. Kind of like a sterile beginning for those brood boxes and I'm good with that. Using the cuttings for starter strips seems like a GREAT idea and that's excellent recycling of your cast offs. Thanks for sharing that and I wish you the BEST with your bees!
@Poison Ivy Side note, Monsanto is no more, they were bought out by the German Company, Bayer. Just a tidbit there...
And Bayer has been one of the biggest pushers of nicotine-based systemic herbicides in Germany...
Just dump some extracted honey on a piece of your scraps and see how well it will spread on a biscuit :-).
Glad you made the video. The price is a little high for me, but I'd still been considering it. Perhaps next season I'll pick up enough to start a few swarms and boost some splits.
Hi Scott, thanks... we'll see if I can get these swarms through winter with them... spring will be the tell all. Thanks for watching and commenting.
@@FrederickDunn how did it go?
Well that’s a shame that they ran out of betterbee comb. Lots of people who watch your video’s are going to be disappointed. I enjoyed that exploration and review!
That was a big bag o' bees ya had there! Guess I hafta get me one a them golf carts if I wanna catch a swarm! Oh, and btw, thanks for buying the last package of that comb from Betterbee...they're out of stock...(Lol!) Thanks for another great video!!
And it looks like The Farmacy Seeds Network beat you to the last golf cart, if Amazon ever delivers it. Lol! Hello Steven!
@@danskisbees7348 DANG.. I knew I should have put an affiliate link up for that golf cart!!! I could have made like $3.00! opportunity missed!
You guys are too much!!
Fred, As you know, I have been using BetterComb for ~3 months now (I was an early adopter) and have had the same experience in my 9 hives as you describe here. It's a great new product and a game-changer. Agree, too, that they should double the number of toothpicks! Lastly, I fully expect BetterBee will add additional versions of BetterComb with wires to allow them to be used with extractors. Maybe by Spring? Hope so!!
Phillip, thanks for telling us about them.
Absolutely, you were the first to ask my opinion about them and thanks for that Phillip! I'm completely thrilled with them.
thank you
Thanks for the review! I kind of wish better bee would take orders and backorder them. But they don’t even let one submit an order for when it comes in. I figured it would be great to use some for my Spring package!
I completely agree and I did send them a message about that a couple of days ago. So far they haven't responded. I'll definitely be stocking up on more when they do become available again.
Betterbee must have listened to you! I was just able to place an order for 20, for delivery early October.
@@jackjellies9854 That's awesome and yes, they did write me back :)
That's cool, I had no idea this product existed. I knew a few years ago one company had fully drawn all plastic comb though I never used it. I could see buying a case and using it a sheet at a time for swarms to give the queen a place to lay quickly but it's pretty cost prohibitive.
HI Brent, it's worked fantastic. I installed the bettercomb in several late season swarm boxes and they have ALL made it through winter as of yesterday. I almost can't believe how successful that stuff made those otherwise doomed swarms. Made it through in single deeps.
@@FrederickDunn That's awesome Frederick, thanks for the update! 2020 is starting out pretty darn good for our bees. So far I've got by far the best overwinter survival rate since I've been keeping bees in the mid 1990's. I'm hoping it's a sign that the bees are starting to develop some real resistance to the Vm as I don't treat with any chemicals. So far all 40+ hives have made it through and I'm loving it. I generally have enough comb for my needs and what I don't have I can usually get my comb pullers to accommodate me pretty fast but once in a while there's just a need for some drawn comb I don't have, this betterbee comb would be handy to have on hand. I wonder how well it would store? Inside at room temp or in a freezer. I generally store drawn frames in a freezer for unknown needs but they get brittle when frozen.
I store them right on racks in the open so they are ready to grab and go. No need to freeze them. Great stuff!
Thats a big swarm.Would survive for sure,doesnt matter its August.
The vented lid thogh,doesnt look too good for winter protection.To be sure i close the vents on my hives in the winter,i wrap them in celophane,saran wrap ,leaving only the bottom and the entrance not covered.
There is a new film about bees called Honeyland.Its verry good rated and i toght i share this with you.
@@mihaiilie8808 Honeyland? I'll have to look that up! Thanks!
Mihai Ilie there was a picture posted recently of a rather large feral hive drawn on the underside of a tree branch out in the open in middle Illinois that was 35’ up in the tree and had survived for 6 years! That really shot down the bees freeze theory for me.
I’ve used this. I got to say I love it!!! Only draw back from it is when it used some and it got over 100 they sagged and fell against the next frame. I used rubber bands until the bees mended it to the frame then cut the bands off.. but other than that love I love it.
Dear Justin,
All problem of bowing and dropping can be avoided trough wiring of frame. Result will be 100 %...
This mechanical issue comes from slow fixing to frame. It's depending on colony. If the summer thermal and weight (honey ) loading comes before the comb is fixed, sure, the comb will be overloaded, and do not able to keep the original form.
But wired version excludes this risk.
Best Regards
Hexacells Honeycomb makes sense lol. I usually string my frames using with fishing string. Need to upgrade to wire now. I used the tooth picks that came with it , but it getting so hot they just pulled right through the foundation
Hi Justin, were those frames in unoccupied hive boxes? I'm surprised the bees allowed it to go over 100? Had the bees already worked them a little, or were they as installed before bees? Thanks so much, I'd love to get more details.
Hello Frederick, this is brilliant. Darn it, I have been considering how to produce drawn brood comb since the last two years for all the good reasons you have mentioned.What I wanted to do was to make it using a printer and natural beeswax to form sheets of brood and super wax for National size and then if that worked well, I would have tried to expand the range into several of the more commercial types of frames.The obvious problem I have is to find a computer literate whiz kid who could write the programmes.What I would really like to produce is natural wax comb for box sections for use with National size frames. The potential for heather sections would be enormous if it can be done since the hardest part of making sections is getting the combs fully drawn out ... the bees could easily do the rest.
Large scale production would be necessary - real beeswax has a widely variable material composition with unpredictable quality. This is why they arrived at a constant synthetic formula in order to lock down predictable and repeatable material parameters. China is full of wiz-kids that will be reverse engineering this stuff extremely fast if history has taught us anything. I wish you all the best with your product development.
Hey. Just found your channel. Great video. I am 73 and live in PA. Where are You located? Thanks again for the fine video and info.
Naw my bees love to hangout with me lol .... They tolerant our existence is about the only way to describe it, the love isn't equal unfortunately but its ok! Thanks for the video! I have been waiting to see some results with the comb and this was an awesome test.
Thanks!
Hey Wes, pretty cool!
@@danskisbees7348 Hey Dan! Dan is who is actually referred to the channel Fred! Glad you had good results with them, I guess if the queen does or doesn't lay in them they still serve a great purpose , either way can be a game changer!
@@George-nx5lo Yes sir, definitely a game changer!
Interesting that they would swarm in August. Need to get set up for food supply for winter.
I've had swarms go out the last week of September.
I almost ordered some a month ago, but held off because they are a bit pricey and I didn’t know how they’d take to it. I should have gotten some!
I think there are a lot of people in the same Boat. They are twice the cost of heavy waxed Acorn Frames and now I'd say they are worth it.
Going back to this video, and thinking about it, this Bettercomb is an wonderful idea and will be purchasing when I get ready to have my first hive. Question: Could you have used all Bettercomb for the brood box? Any draw backs on that? Thank you
Using bettercomb through the center to get them ramped up is enough I think, that way if you get a set of 10 frames/drawn, you can then use them on two brood boxes and for the outter frames, to foundationless or Acorn etc... saves money and still gets them off to a fast start.
Awesome video! Have you tried or thought about a warre quilt box on top of a hive and see if it works better that a regular hive top?
I've done that in the past and the solid covers did better in my local climate for the bees I keep. I know some keepers have very good luck with those hive tops in winter.
@@FrederickDunn I just keep seeing new ideas(too me) and this one interested me. I will be a first time bee keeper next spring. I value all your videos. I have learned so much, Thank you!
Thank you so much and this series is for people exactly like YOU!
Frederick we used it this year in Ma. USA. We had no problem with it until we tried it in the 4th super, just making honey comb for winter, and in the heat of August it melted. Had a rip up top and a fold at the bottom. I think for a swarm and only brood this is great stuff.
Dear John,
For supers we suggest to use in in wired version.
th-cam.com/video/a-ElrV6SR4s/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/WXqMgi1De6k/w-d-xo.html
Wow John, thank you for sharing, was that during a high heat period? The company states in their data, that the BetterComb has a higher melting temp than actual honey comb drawn by the bees. Please keep me updated.
@@FrederickDunn it's was high 80s maybe a day of 90 so not that hot and it is a betterbee polystyrene hive. Will keep you posted
@@jman414999 Thank you John, I'm taking notes! Much appreciated.
@@FrederickDunn me to I think they are the best if you don't have any drawn comb. They are clean and the bees take to them immediately. For swarms they are great
I just bought this comb and I didn't get the tooth picks - I was going to use bobby pins like on the wax foundation. I will be using it this week also and will keep you posted.
Hi Robin, sometimes the bees will avoid metal? Round wooden toothpicks are cheap and never rust, just food for thought. If you do use metal pins, please share how that did or didn't work out for you :)
The tooth picks worked real nice but I have used bobby pins on the wired waxed foundation before and really liked them and have had no trouble with the bees not liking them.
The thing I like best about the bobby pins are they go on both sides of the center piece on the combed foundation and held it really good. So either one will work.
@@robinsmith702 feel free to share a link to the bobby pins that work best! Thanks for sharing that tip Robin!
I will try 10 for next year for splits
Thanks Fred. I know with your new sask-a-traz (spelling?) bees this year you were going to have some foundationless as an experiment. How has that gone so far? I hope to go foundationless in the spring down under. I'd like to do comb honey.
They drew out the foundationless wood frames perfectly and right away. The Saskatraz bees are BIG wax and honey producers. I couldn't be happier with them. When I first set them up, I placed foundationless frames between plastic acorn frames and that resulted in perfectly drawn comb. Impressive I have to say.
This seems like a great way to give the bees a massive jumpstart. As an aside, I always thought there was more... procedure? I guess? involved in adopting a swarm. Nope, bag 'em and dump 'em into the box and call it a day. That's wild.
Also just saw the update comment below - so from August 4th to September 11th, which is just five and a half weeks, this hive made like 45 pounds of honey in that medium super? Does that kind of situation warrant maybe putting yet another medium super up top to see if they can build more of a buffer before winter sets in properly? I'm not sure what the actual end of the foraging season for your bees is up North.
It was too late in the season for adding more boxes. The good news is that they are still alive and looking like they just may pass that spring finish line! :) We'll be checking in on them again in March.
where an we buy the plastic cover top ?
interesting ..just last year I was thinking that someone should come up with a synthetic comb.
Hi Kerry, it's been attempted in the past but failed miserably. They are really onto something with this new formula. Truly convincing, not just to me, but obviously to the bees also.
I notice that when you remove frames to look inside the hive you always put them back in the same order. What would happen if you DIDN'T? Would it make the bees confused, or would they simply adjust? Great video, as always!
That's just my habit to keep things in order for the ants and match up any surface comb irregularities which sometimes occur. They would adapt to any swap outs or re-arrangements, it's just easier on them to keep things as they were.
Am I correct in hearing that the 4 black plastic frames were just new? Out of the box? with no comb?
That's amazing!
Yes, heavy waxed Acorn frames, the bees draw those out very fast and use them ahead of pierco or mann lake one piece frames.
@@FrederickDunn we bought a lot of mann lake frames last year. They didn't draw them out much at all . That little swarm worked fast
@@angiekyle2942 I always brush on melted wax to my plastic foundation, regardless of its source. In 8 years I have never had bees fail to draw it out nicely.
Thanks Fred, Have you had any experience with the Guardian entrance to protect hive from small hive Beatles? I have gotten 2 from Barnyard Bees and installed to test out. Thanks and regards from NC
I stink at testing SHB traps etc as we have such a low number of SHB. I think our severe winters keep their numbers down. I didn't even get anything in my beetle jails that I attempted to test this year. If you got them from Barnyard Bees, didn't Dave test them? He's probably the one to ask regarding SHB issues. Thanks for watching and commenting.
The two beekeepers that I know of, who had very high SHB counts, say that they work. You'll also want to use a Beetle Barn or Beetle Blaster in conjunction with the Guardian Entrance to catch the ones that sneak in elsewhere. Dave wouldn't sell it if he didn't think it worked, he made a video. Let me know if you have any questions, happy to help.
Thanks Dan!
keeper01 is one of the beekeepers I was talking about, he has a comment posted on this video.
@@FrederickDunn Might ask 648DirtRooster--I know he has beetles and has tested various devices...
Do you at a certain stage remove the entrance reducer? Or do the bees don't mind that it's there, so best left on?
I left them all on this year. No problem at all.
Frederick, just curious, was the comment about the burr comb on the inner cover meaninful? does that burr comb benefit the bees or was that just a comment that you didn't get it cleaned off? I only have 6 hives and attempt to keep them cleaned up where it doesn't cause too much distress to the bees but i've noticed on many if not all the youtube vidios that cleaning burr comb is not addressed much. Is it better to let it be or is it better to keep the hive cleened up for "hopefully" easier inspection on the next visit?
If it's not interfering with putting the hive components together nice and snug, I'd leave as much as possible. They make good use of it. But if it's too tall or in the way of completely sealing the hive box top or bottom, then a clean surface is very helpful. I like to collect it and use it as a wax primer for starter strips of frames. I also put cleaned up burr comb in water dishes for the bees to climb on when they fall in.
It's ok Fred.. Yuo can run advanced timing for us! :) I'm still waiting for amazon to drop-ship my golf cart... it's been months! Lol.. I always chuckle at the "my bees like me and welcome my invasion" concept. Sure, they like having to fix what you messed up over AGAIN.. lol So, excellent review... thank you! Question: Will this stuff spin without sagging or breaking out of the frames?
Nope, you cannot spin it as it will simply come apart under that stress. The sellers say not to use it in honey supers that will be for human consumption and not to run through extractors or spinners. I'm going to use it for brood boxes only. :) Ohhh and good luck with your new Club Car :) Mine is solar powered since I charge it from my solar powered house ;)
Ahh ok... I was afraid of that... OK.. I like the idea of fully drawn comb... was watching some videos on making your own foundations. Pretty interesting process. I know it's quite a "machining" trick.. but I wonder with all the cnc and 3d printing we have now if there isn't a way to print your own fully drawn wire foundation comb. Prob wouldn't be too hard to set up.. in theory.. some of the details could take some figuring. Back to frames... looks like Acorn is the stuff for deep honey supers if you want artificial spin-able and "bee accepted" according to your research and testing. Hey thanks on the new club car.. I'm sure the Fedex man will drive in with it in a box anyday now.. possibly Fred Flinstone style. :)
@@TheFarmacySeedsNetwork They already have that. th-cam.com/video/a-ElrV6SR4s/w-d-xo.html
Ha ha, one of our bee advisers once said to our hive inspections group " despite all that we do to help our bees, they still seem to survive"
@@douglassutherland4646 I think that's a good way of putting it! :)
Fred , are the frames the same size as most others sold ??
They are the same, thanks for that question.
Great video Fred. Any idea what cell size this comb is, i.e. small cell or not?
It is not small cell.
Thanks Fred!
Love your videos, I'm in South Florida and I'm new beekeeper, I want to know when is a good time to put on my honey super box?
Can someone please help
How I do it involves a feeder shim that's 1.5 inches tall. When your bees build burr comb in the feeder shim it's time to put supers on..I'm in illinois and don't know anything about Florida bees tho.
@@mikeries8549 thank you, I see where you going with this and I understand what you're saying, so I will try that. Thank you again.
@@wayneynot in early spring when I still have snow or ice in march I feed mine pollen brood builder. The shim is used in fall for bag-feeding using zip lock freezer bags. The shim gets left on all winter in case I want to feed.
I check a lot in spring. There is a day where I find burr comb and eggs in the shims. Usually mid-april. That's the signal to get out the supers and queen excluders.
Hope this helps.
I run around 40 colonies.
I have a challenge. I inspected my hive today. Spotty brood and I didn't see any eggs. Plenty of larva, resources... capped honey and bee bread. Girls bringing in pollen. Found the queen and watched her for a couple of minutes. She was inspecting cells, but I didn't see her lay. The hive is in Sedona, AZ and it's been hot, still waiting for monsoons. In a dearth will she slow down her laying? Plenty of workers, lots of activity at the entrance, a few drones cells and no queen cups. Should I be worried?
They do slow down and even stop during periods of dearth. It's a continuous challenge. The presence of capped honey and bee-bread would suggest they are fine inside, BUT, the hive and queen responds to what's coming in, not so much what they have stored. So her laying suspension is based on what's outside, not inside.
@@FrederickDunn Thanks!!! This is my first hive. Started with a nuc from Colorado in May. Been reading, talking and watching for the last 18 months. Love your FAQs. I have a Flow 2.
met an ole timer that brings his hives to the swarm, then raps on the empty hives and the bees will find it and swarm into it, says bees hear woodpeckers tapping on hollow trees, thats how they find them, it works, see it done, any way that works though, like your channel, bee on
Bees do not waste nectar to make wax, thus more honey for me to extract.
Amazon does have bright shiny new golf carts but they are expensive.
I highly recommend club car :)
Could you go into some detail as to how to orient the better bee comb within the frames.
Instructions states that the slope of the cells should be toward the top bar. I’m not sure I understand that.
When you look at the end of the better comb, you'll se it's in a slight "V" with the cells angled down towards the comb center. That's how you install it. Think of needing gravity to hold the nectar in the cell, if the comb were upside down, the nectar would flow out. I hope that helps :)
Thanks so much I’ll see if I can figure it out
Is this drawn comb susceptible to wax moths?
That's a great question Linda, and it's yet to be seen. Since the bees amend this comb with their own wax, I'm going to speculate that you have to store it safely as you would any other drawn comb.
What happens with better bee comb when you go to uncaping it are you going to get that comb in your wax
Yes, if the honey is coming from Better-comb, then it's likely that along with the cappings if you remove them rather than score them, you'll have some of the bettercomb in the capping wax. It will behave the same as bees wax if you use it for wax products or for foundation, but you cannot claim that wax is "pure bees wax".
I wonder what i did wrong... I bought one already-built betterbee bettercomb frame and replaced a plastic foundation-frame that was not built-out yet in my very first colony. I put it in "slot 4" near the center of the box. Two weeks later my bees had built out the frames around the bettercomb, but no nectar, pollen or brood in the bettercomb. zero. I was hoping I'd have brood - but no cigar. Any suggestions?
I loved the video - it was really great to see some details about catching swarms. I wish I'd had similar results with the BetterComb.
You're just going to have to wait it out I'm afraid. The more they use it, the more it will smell right until they begin to put eggs in those cells. Depends on the season, colony status, and many other variables. I've had swarms use it within a couple of days for brood, but that may not be the norm.
With a heavy swarm like that (or a smaller one), do many bees get squashed at the bottom of the pile in the net?
Zero dead bees in the net. The net is soft and forgiving, much easier on them than dumping them into a wooden box and they can breathe through the fabric. When you see the empty net after they have all migrated into the box, there are no bees left behind, so no one died.
That's pretty amazing. And great. Thanks for your reply.
@@FrederickDunn I always wondered what I could carry in the car just in case I see a swarm :)
@@RICDirector Exactly, and you can close the net with a zip tie to transport. I have them with me always. I've made other swarm capture videos with the nets, it's my favorite method by far, I can even climb a tree and bag them - I could never climb a tree with a wooden box.
*Spoiler Alert!!!* I wanted to be kept in suspense as to whether or not they would rebuild the synthetic comb!
(';')( ';')... oops....
I bought some BetterComb but haven't had the opportunity to use it yet. It didn't arrive in time for my package installations so I just used some already drawn frames.
But I just had a thought, I'm wondering if wax moths will treat BetterComb as real beeswax? I don't care to find out the hard way, but I was just curious if anyone has had any waxmoth damage to BetterComb?
Hi Ron, I get that question a lot and haven't seen any waxworm action on the better comb "yet", we'll keep an eye on that and of course, share if it happens.
Any disadvantages to the better bee? How does it compare to the acorn?
They are completely different. Acorn heavy waxed frames can be used for anything and will hold up for many years but the bees have to draw out the was. The BetterComb is ready to use and the bees take to it immediately without having to work it up. Bettercomb as is, shouldn't be put in extractors as it won't hold up, BUT, if you install wire support and let the bees seal the edges up, it can go into the extractor according to the manufacturer.
Can this comb be used with any empty frame?
Yes, you can fit them into your deep wood frames and can run wire for support, orrrr drill those extra holes in the top and bottom bars to accommodate toothpicks for support.
What about the permacomb ? How is it compared to this prepared comb?
This comb beehaves like bees wax, permacomb is all plastic and the bees can't work it, they only cap it. I'm holding back on that product at the moment.
Do you ever have issues with the round conduit on your hive stands?
HI Dave, what kind of issues? I haven't had any problems with them and will probably continue using T-posts and conduit in the foreseeable future. I was telling my wife this morning that I should probably make a mock-up and do a load bearing destructive test so we will further understand their limits.
Structurally the t-posts & conduit are more than adequate, the hose clamps would be the weak link, what I was wondering was the contact area of the round conduit with the flat bottom of your hive/s and any slippage issues?
Have you ever looked at using a square-section product like Uni-Strut for your structural members?
Structurally the t-posts & conduit are more than adequate, the hose clamps would be the weak link, what I was wondering was the contact area of the round conduit with the flat bottom of your hive/s and any slippage issues?
Have you ever looked at using a square-section product like Uni-Strut for your structural members?
Structurally the t-posts & conduit are more than adequate, the hose clamps would be the weak link, what I was wondering was the contact area of the round conduit with the flat bottom of your hive/s and any slippage issues?
Have you ever looked at using a square-section product like Uni-Strut for your structural members?
@@svgs650r I haven't have any slipping problems, if that ever occurred with a lighter box I could add cleats underneath.
My swarm was in a trash can. I just brought the trash can home. Only two stings thru my jeans. Now they really like that trash can. They will not move to my box. Yeehaw.
Fred have you tried melting any of your Better Comb?
Yes, we also did candle tests to see if burned as long as real beeswax, it actually burned longer. It behaves like beeswax.
Is Better Comb biodegradable?
According to the seller it is completely biodegradable and can also be melted with other beeswax remnants and used i candle making. It basically behaves exactly like real honeycomb.
Drones in late August?
and September annnnd October....
Why not use in honey supers?
There have just been some issues, according to others, with blow-out during extraction.
Isn't it a downside if you only have 1-2 hives and you can't extract honey without honey extractor. I think as a beginner beekeeper this would not work. Or you have to use betterbee frames for the brood and use empty frames for a super.
Use them for the brood box only, then as they build up, add foundationless frames, or Acorn wax dipped, or whatever conventional frame you want to extract your honey with. For non-spinning extraction processes such as "crush and strain" or "scrape and drain" you don't want to use the Bettercomb. Lower box only.
Thanks for reply! Good luck!
Wonder how it does against wax moths?
They don't eat it.
I don't care if you think your bees love you and they look forward to your visits, they don't. hahaha
Is betterbee out of business? Their website doesn't load for me.
Seems to be working fine :) www.betterbee.com/
@@FrederickDunn thank you for that link! I don't know how I got stuck in some kind of bad loop with google.
Price is way to high! but nice product.
It's definitely expensive.
Sold out till October 😂
I know... so much for this year!
I had to do some searching.
Constant data:
- Average comb thickness: 24.5 mm
- Average cell wall thickness: 0.15 - 0.2 mm
- Cell wall inclination angle: 7° / comb side
- Average cell size: 5.35 - 5.4 mm
- Average comb weight: 0.2 g/cm2
It didn’t work out for me the comb started melting and sagging even with the wire frames better bee says to use long story short better bee took the whole order back
Was it being used in a fully stocked hive? Or was the space to large for the bees to regulate? What were the heat/weather conditions? Thanks for sharing Christopher, this is important information and I'm glad that Betterbee took the comb back. We are definitely learning more about the limitations of bettercomb.
Frederick Dunn I used it just like you did in this video 6 per box in both mediums and deep frames . I wasn’t gonna shove in down their throats in one shot as they say lol .
The heat was fluctuating from the 77 to the high 90s the week I gave it to them . As stated the 2 top cells started to melt down better bee took the 40 medium /40 deep frame back they are a great company it just didn’t work for me !
$85.00/ 1 frame? That's $850.00 for 1 hive body. How long do they last?
$85 / 10 pieces
That's $8.50 per frame, $85.00 per box of TEN with wooden frames.
tried to order better comb , kit outa stock
DANG... they generally re-stock over the weekend, did they give an expected "in-stock" date? I'd like to know in case others ask. Thanks so much and I'm sorry about that!
@@FrederickDunn i went back and looked still wss outa stock on the kit,but sheets were available,under foundation,watched their hexacells videos on TH-cam,just called lady said call monday ,she wasnt sure when it was going to be in stock
The only problem with your videos is you feature lots of great items that are not available to your overseas viewers. Just jealous
Aha! Look up Hexacells, I think these are actually being produced in Europe :) I've written to the company and to betterbee, neither has responded to my questions, but I think Hexacell is doing the manufacturing and product development and Betterbee has received U.S. distribution rights and U.S. branding.
Whats th e point for all this???
Is that a question George?
Im less happy with it. Itscollapsing in on its self and killing larva. It doesn't seem to be able to support the weight of the honey. I don't think my hive that it's in is going to make it and it's kind of disappointing.
Dear Susan,
This problem can be avoided with a wired version.
th-cam.com/video/a-ElrV6SR4s/w-d-xo.html
Thank you for sharing your experience Susan, that's a valuable observation. How did the bees attempt to repair the comb? I hope you photographed that condition or made a video for sharing. Please keep us updated as I'm still evaluating them.
@@FrederickDunn yeah it sucks. I did take pictures. They have attempted to fixed it, but I think its just made it a mess. At least for me. Lol they have tunnels now.
I bought some of this. 10 frames and 20 drawn comb. $171.55! NEVER AGAIN
What happened to them? Yes, it's around $8 per frame with comb insert. Did they lie to you about what the costs would be?
Very nice video. However, why so apologetic for every step of opening the hive and showing us the progress of the new comb? Your diisruption of that one colony is needed to produce the video that will benefit hundreds or even thousands of people who may better care for millions of bees.
Thanks Bryan!
My only issue might be that you could be selecting for hives that are poor comb-builders.....
How have you arrived at that hypothesis? These are only used in the brood box to get them going, the rest of the wax production in the upper boxes will be completely from the bees. Based on the "poor comb building" concern, wouldn't the risks be the same when using pre-drawn comb from other hives? I would love to know more about poor comb building carrying forward genetically where pre-drawn frames are used. Thanks for sharing, always ready to learn something new.
@@FrederickDunn It came to mind from a general farming standpoint, although speaking from zero experience with bees.
Knowing that in other species, maternal behavior can be negatively affected by 'helping too much' in your husbandry practices, it came to mind that by providing completely pre-drawn synthetic comb, one could be selecting for hives which might not have good brood comb-building abilities. (As compared to those who have to do it from scratch.)
Soo...while they'd be fine at building comb for honey, they might not be doing so for brood, and since I don't have a clue how or if bees do brood comb differently than honey comb.....that I leave to you, since you DO have the extensive experience to know. :)
Mostly thinking out loud. Probably resulting in 'sole food' as I chew on my foot, too. :)
@@RICDirector Their construction of brood comb is no different from honey-comb. The use of the comb in each area is multipurpose. Drone comb is also sometimes used for honey production.
you take away, the American dream, shooting it down, and drinking beer, lol a real man, never would have a butterfly neat, that a NO NO
a real man, use neats for illegal fishing, live the American dream lol KERP THE AMERICAN DREAMS ALIVE
I've shot down the American dream of illegal fishing and beer drinking? Ok then.... ; )
So building a manufacturing plant, harvesting and trucking the materials to it, refining those materials and producing the product, then packaging and shipping it to the beekeeper is better how? Is it easier on the bees in the beginning, sure. Is it better for the environment the bees live in, certainly not. Is it another wasteful product everyone should avoid like the plague to encourage manufacturers to stop producing this junk, yes.
Most beekeepers I know and probably in general, believe in combatting climate. Why would one take a normal natural process that has worked forever and muck it up with petroleum based manufacturing and shipping?
HI Thomas, people can buy it or not, I'm just sharing about it and everyone will do what they will, I'm no dictator in the area of beekeeping. This will save several late-season swarms for me.
Dear Sir,
Can I ask where the information comes from that this is an petroleum based product?
Do you know exactly what beeswax is made of and how does this product differ from it?
Is the forced comb-drawing of bees a really natural process?
Do you know a beekeeping tool that is natural - so it is not made by production?
( hive, frames, foundation, smoker, extractor.... )
Are you sure, that the traditional beekeeping processes are really natural ?
( Queen propagation, splitting a colony, feeding bees, cyclical taking away of honey, the continuous transport of bees from one place to another, bee medication... and so on... )
We think, that this is just another tool to help the beekeeping sector.
Nonetheless, we would love to read your thoughts on the above issues.
Thank you for your attention, and patience.
Best Regards
@@FrederickDunn Yes they can buy it or not. Late season swarms is a good use for either it or other frames with drawn foundation.
I get I hit a nerve with people...it seems like an entirely unnecessary and wasteful product. But some people, not you, really went off the deep end when they read my post!
PS. Really good video by the way, I should have lead with that in my first post.
@@hexacellshexacells6093 I didn't say it was a petroleum based product, I said it is petroleum based manufacturing.
Also, you seem to be focusing on the word natural which I did mention but was clearly not the point of my post. My point is that there are a lot of materials, machines, energy, etc....that go into the manufacturing of this and it is by no means a necessary product. I could go into a huge debate with you about natural this and natural that but again that's not the point. To me it seems like an entirely unnecessary and wasteful product.
@@thomasbacon I understand, not every product will appeal to everyone and yes, some beekeepers are passionate.