First cutout

[WLF1961]

Well thanks to this forum and all you experienced folks that post a lot about your cutouts I was able to attempt my first one today. It was pretty cool. I found the queen and caught her with the queen catcher and in the box she went. Now I have a couple of questions please. Do ya'll keep all the odd shaped comb and just try to make it fit the best you can in the box? If so seems it is almost impossible to fill 9 or 10 frames and make them fit in the box. Think I might have tried to fit too much in there and crowed them. Also now that they are in a box hive will they keep the comb like that or will they eventually straighten it out to more uniform comb? I plan to give them a little sugar and screen the entrance for at least a day then open them up. What do ya'll think? Thanks for any advice and helping some of us not so experienced folks learn. Wayne

[asprince]

If I use any at all, I only use the larger pieces with brood. I rubber band them in wood frames. I then fill out the rest of the box with either drawn comb or frames with foundation.

Steve

[Robo]

Same here, I only use the larger pieces with brood.  Not sure I would keep them screened though.  If you have the queen and brood, chances are pretty good they ain't going anywhere.  Keeping them screened will add more stress.

[WLF1961]

OK, so I went back to the hive and took out some of the big odd pieces and replaced it with foundation, removed the screen and put an entrance reducer and gave em some sugar. Does that sound good? What do ya'll do with all the extra comb. I gotta 5 gal bucket running over left over, a lot of it was dark and empty but in good shape. Thanks

[kathyp]

you can melt it down and save it.  keep some for swarm traps.  eat the honey if there is any 

[Cheryl]

yay for extra wax! It's always good for something!!