Chattanooga, TN

[mherndon]

I am new to bees.  My grandfather in law bought 10 hives with colonies and called wanting me to learn how to work them.  I thought of no better way than to get in myself.  I bought a nuc 3 weeks ago and have them working.  Carniolin variety is suppose to be what I bought.  I am inpatient that they have not started build comb on the empty frames yet.  I plan on letting them have all the honey this year to get through the winter.  I have read many posts and finding a lot of information on this forum.  If anyone has a good plan on manipulating frames, please let me know. 

Mark Herndon

[Moonshae]

Welcome!

Are you feeding your hives? If there is no nectar coming in, they may not build comb.

It's hard to be patient, but the bees do things when they want, not necessarily when you do. Often, its when the beekeeper tries to "force" the bees to do something that you end up with problems.

[Cindi]

Mark, welcome to our forum, this will be the place where you can spend time and learn.  As was asked, do your bees have enough food to be building comb?  Is there a flow going on in your area, they need food to build comb, wax is secreted from 4 pairs of glands on their abdomen, without food (honey/sugar syrup) they cannot secrete wax to draw comb.  YOu will find this the place to spend time and learn, you have lots to learn, we all have lots to learn, and have fun doing it. Have that most wonderful and beautiful day, love life.  Cindi