Cross-comb is when the bees draw out the comb in a way that is not perpendicular to the frames. This is not ideal, as it makes extracting honey difficult. However, it is not the end of the world, and can actually be quite easily fixed. Many beekeepers are intimidated by foundationless beekeeping because they think their bees won’t have enough time to build out the comb before winter. However, if you start with a strong colony, they will be able to do it.
If you're considering mixing foundationless frames with those that have foundation, I would advise against it. The two styles of frames are quite different, and you'll likely find that one style or the other will work better for your needs. Foundationless frames are typically made of wax or plastic, and they lack the structure that frames with foundation have. This can make them more difficult to work with, and they can be more susceptible to damage. Foundationless frames can be a good option for those who are experienced with beekeeping, but if you're just starting out, you may find it easier to work with frames that have foundation.
About foundationless beekeeping
Foundationless frames should be used in the brood chamber for a number of reasons. First, it allows the bees to build out their comb the way they want to, which is often more efficiently than the way foundation is laid out. Second, it gives the bees a chance to really get used to working with foundationless comb before they have to worry about storing honey in it. And finally, it allows the beekeeper to more easily inspect the brood comb for problems like wax moths or small hive beetles.
The bees tend to build more creatively in the honey supers than in the brood nest. They put more effort into making the honey supers sturdy and the combs within them fat, with deep cells that can store more honey. This is likely because they know that the honey supers will be harvested and the honey within them eaten, so they want to make sure that the supers are of good quality.
Bees often curve their honey combs that they start out on one frame, but end on another. This can be problematic for beekeepers because it means they cannot lift a frame without damaging comb. However, the bees are simply making more efficient use of the space and perspective, they are just trying to get the most out of the available space.
If you're a beekeeper, you know that one of the most difficult things to keep bees from doing is building cross comb in the honey super. This can be a constant battle, and if you're not careful, you can end up with a big mess. Correcting new comb, heavy with honey, is a messy undertaking that takes some skill. It's the kind of thing that will scare off someone from foundationless beekeeping for good.
The brood nest is the ideal place to try foundationless frames because the bees tend to build straight, narrow, orderly combs. This habit makes it easier for the bees to keep the brood nest clean and free of debris. The brood nest is also where the bees will most benefit from natural combs. Natural combs are more durable and provide a better structure for the brood nest.
Another problem
The lack of drones in the new super will allow wax moth larvae and small hive beetles to run rampant, especially during weak honey flows. Another problem with adding a completely foundationless super to an existing colony is the imbalance of drones. Foundation suppresses drone production because the cells are too small to raise drones. The lack of drones in the new super will allow wax moth larvae and small hive beetles to run rampant, especially during weak honey flows. This can lead to damage or even destruction of the hive as the pests will have free rein to wreak havoc. It's important to take into account the potential for problems like this when adding foundationless supers to an existing colony.
If you're a beekeeper, you might be familiar with the term "drone comb." Drone comb is a type of comb that bees build to house their male population. While drone comb is perfectly natural, it can be a bit of a nuisance for beekeepers. This is because when bees build too much drone comb, it can throw off the balance of the hive. Beekeepers who are new to foundationless beekeeping might be alarmed at the amount of drone comb their bees build. However, it's important to remember that this is natural behavior for bees. They build drone comb in order to rectify the imbalance in their hive. Once the hive is balanced, the bees will stop building drone comb.
The bees may get a little overzealous with drone production at first, but if you allow them to find the balance, most of that drone comb will be filled with honey. If you allowed them to be foundationless from the beginning you wouldn’t experience an imbalance. Drones help the hive by providing genetic diversity and they also help with pollination.
If you decide to alternate your foundation, do so with caution. I have had this practice backfire before. It may work for some, but it is not guaranteed to work for everyone.
Rebelling against the foundation frames is a common occurrence among beekeepers. When the bees build extra fat combs on the foundationless frames, it makes the frames much harder to manage.
Foundation Frames or Foundationless
Whether this is good or bad is a matter of personal opinion, but it’s worth knowing that comb built on foundation will often be less sturdy than comb built on natural wax. If you're starting out with a nuc from another beekeeper, there's a good chance that the frames in your nuc will contain comb built on foundation. Some beekeepers believe that this is less sturdy than comb built on natural wax and prefer to start with comb that has been built naturally.
Eventually, you will want to rotate the frames out and replace them with new foundation frames. However, you should do this gradually so that your colony has time to adjust. As your colony grows, you can move the foundation frames upward. Eventually, the foundation frames will become honey frames that you can simply harvest out of the hive.
Recommendation
When you mix foundation and foundationless frames in the same beehive, the bees will make do. However, if you're going to mix, it's my opinion that the best combo is to go completely foundationless in the brood nest and then use foundation only in the honey supers. This way, the bees can build their own wax comb in the brood nest as they see fit, and then you can use the foundation in the honey supers to help control the comb size and shape for easier honey extraction.
