Beehive Frames Without Foundation

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In this article, we explore using beehive frames without foundation. Foundationless beekeeping refers to the method of using foundationless frames to keep bees.

Beeswax foundation is a sheet (which can be reinforced with plastic) of beeswax. It is placed in the middle of a frame in such a way as to employ bee space.  This forces the bees to build a comb in the area we wish them to. Foundationless beekeeping refers to the method of beekeeping where we use beehive frames without foundation.

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What Is Beeswax Foundation

There are two broad categories of frames in use. Plastic ones and wooden ones. Plastic frames often have a plastic center foundation that has honeycomb patterns on it and is coated with beeswax to give the bees a hint that they can draw comb on it.

Foundationless Frames

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Foundation  vs Foundationless Beekeeping

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Advantages

In this method, we reduce the risk of bringing pathogens and pesticides into our hive with foreign wax...

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Disadvantages

Mess – the bees can make a mess and you can end up with cross combs, brace combs, and a disaster in the boxes...

This is basically keeping bees using beehive frames without foundation sheets. In this method, we use a number of tricks to get the bees to build combs where we want them to.

Why Try Foundationless Beekeeping

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ADVICE

The mesh segments from migratory lids and ventilated supers can be washed with alcohol to remove high-value medical propolis. Store the mesh and pipe segments for the next season after washing.

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