Install Pure Beeswax Foundation in a Wedge Top Frame 

Hadn't thought about the coffee getting them fired up. But I did have a few get in my coffee the other day when I left it unattended for a few minutes. Little worms! Funny, I wonder if you have a daily dose if it's the same girls that come back looking for it each day. I wonder if they'd take it without the sugar. I thought about doing empty frames in the swarm traps, but I've done enough cutouts and crooked comb I just don't want to fool with the risk of cross combs. I think I'll run mostly foundation in the swarm traps, maybe even whole sheets of Rite Cell. I know they move in ready to build lots of wax, but they won't outrun a 10 frame box before I can see they've arrived. I'm not a fan of plastic foundation in the brood nest, but am a more of a fan of that than fixing crooked combs. I still need to get my traps out, but I've been backed up with just trying to get lids and bottom boards built for them. The traps are assembled and ready, just need the top and bottom. I'm looking forward to some hard core trapping this year too!

Brueggens Bees I really think its easier trapping than rearing. or even splitting and using queen cells, Plus i use the smaller and weaker swarms to split into a nuc or queen castles. I really don't split a strong hive or mess with them much other harvest queen cells and honey.. I think some Bk make it to easy for them, and make them not use there wax glands. What bees suppose to do make wax, honey. pollinate things and make more bees... Cross comb is rare, but it does happen, most of the time it seem like from crooked foundation or foundation heat bent or that has broken off ect. You don't see much cross comb on a new swarm that started comb.. i haven't yet. The biggest problem i have is thick comb, my bees like to make THICK COMB. on the frames. So i took a frame out of a 10 frame hive and it helped. There a Hybrid honey bee too... Yes bees like the plain black coffee as well as beer, Mountain Dew,soda pop, energy drinks, even Tea, longs it not a dairy produce... i just have a little bit of sugar in my coffee I think its time to get the swarm traps out, to get the bees know where they are at right now, and when there ready to swarm they know where to go...Scouts where checking mine out hard the other day already! .After this rain pass it could happen any time now..

426 SUPER BEE Yes, that's my fear, that just as soon as the weather breaks the bees will jump ship. I haven't had a chance to check into my larger colonies in a couple weeks for splitting prior to swarming. I don't have extra queens, so if I split I need swarm cells already drawn, or I have to make a queenless split and let them pull emergency queens, which is not my preference by any means.

Brueggens Bees Don't feel bad i haven't got mine tore down and look at them either ! Been to cold or raining and now its raining, I can say 1 thing POSITIVE, After the rain pass look for 1 big honey flow, any thing is possible afterwards The only smart thing i did was to get my traps out and they done been scouted very hard.. i have them set head high in trees,like red buds, peach trees and a few next to the ground near some sort of a blooming tree.

426 SUPER BEE True on the honey flow potential. Dogwoods are blooming everywhere up here now, and hardwoods like oak are coming on strong. Another week or two of warm weather will have the wildflowers going. That honey flow may very well induce the swarming.