Encouraging bees to use Flow™ frames
One of the common criticisms of the Flow™ hive and the Flow frames is the use of plastic in its components. An often repeated argument is that bees don't like plastic and will only use it as a last resort. With many new beekeepers installing Flow™ frames into hives without experience in using plastic hive components, the bees may appear immediately reluctant to 'move up', reinforcing the belief that plastic is the problem. The below process is a straightforward method that uses collected excess wax to encourage the bees into the Flow™ frames by making the frames more familiar to the bee colony that's active below.
Before using this method, the Flow™ frames were placed on an active hive for two weeks during a light honey flow. During this period, there was no activity in the Flow™ super, and when the super was removed there were less than a handful of bees active on the Flow™ frames.
A plastic excluder was in place for the entire process. An excluder is critical in a Flow™ configuration as the queen will lay in Flow™ frames
Standard Flow™ frame in the closed position
Block of excess wax melted down from burr comb used to rub the face of the Flow™ frame
The face of the Flow™ frame acts as a grater and the high points of the frame catch the wax (be careful not to damage the Flow™ frame)
Underside of the wax block shows minor amount of wax used
Close up of frame showing full coverage of wax on the high points
Excess wax can be collected and reused
Immediately after adding the Flow™ frames back into the hive, bees start to 'correct' the messy wax
Less than 24 hours later the bees have moved the wax from the high points on the frame and are actively filling the gaps between the cells
Before using this method, the Flow™ frames were placed on an active hive for two weeks during a light honey flow. During this period, there was no activity in the Flow™ super, and when the super was removed there were less than a handful of bees active on the Flow™ frames.
A plastic excluder was in place for the entire process. An excluder is critical in a Flow™ configuration as the queen will lay in Flow™ frames
Standard Flow™ frame in the closed position
Block of excess wax melted down from burr comb used to rub the face of the Flow™ frame
The face of the Flow™ frame acts as a grater and the high points of the frame catch the wax (be careful not to damage the Flow™ frame)
Underside of the wax block shows minor amount of wax used
Close up of frame showing full coverage of wax on the high points
Excess wax can be collected and reused
Immediately after adding the Flow™ frames back into the hive, bees start to 'correct' the messy wax
Less than 24 hours later the bees have moved the wax from the high points on the frame and are actively filling the gaps between the cells