We’ve been framed! Actually we’ve been preparing frames. My Honey Bees are doing a great job filling their hive, so it is time to add a second brood box. Up until now our Honey Bees have been living in a single brood box. This is the box at the bottom of the hive, where they have been busy taking care of the eggs the Queen Bee lays, as well as starting to build comb to store the honey they are making. By adding a second box to the hive, they will have plenty of room to grow, and will start focusing their attention on filling the new box with honey.

First though Asa and I must prepare frames to give them a fresh foundation to build their combs.

We begin by removing the old honeycomb left from the previous colony.

Then we add new wax to the frames, being very careful not to break the thin sheet of wax.

These frames will provide the base for the Honey Bees to build new comb, that will eventually be filled with honey.

Once the frames are all repaired and ready to go, we put them in the new brood box.

And then add the second brood box to the hive.

Now we just have to give our Honey Bees time to move on up and start making delicious honey!