Inspection 5/13 to check feeders and comb building. One colony had supersedure cells on the upper part of a frame. Capped worker brood but I saw no larvae.

another had swarm cells; I crushed 22 (most capped with queens in them) and hope I got them all.

I have medium supers on all colonies: waxed plastic foundation but zero wax production. They are filling the brood cells with 1:1 and pollen.

Flowers are just starting in the meadow; Globe Gillia, MeadowFoam, Buttercups but it has been cold and damp up there.

I am concerned that they are not drawing out the foundation and think about buying some drawn frames to place in the supers as encouragement. Has anyone any thoughts on that idea?

Ken, are you thinking to harvest honey this year? If so, having supers on while feeding sugar syrup might be a problem. But I understand that you are trying to get the girls to draw out the comb. How about spraying some 1;1 syrup on the plastic foundation to get the girls to engage with it? Rick's offer is generous, as I'm not sure who sells drawn comb.

Hello beeks. Rick, thank you for the generous offer of cut comb. I found a source for frames with comb on them. I will install two in each of my four supers when they arrive.
Three of my double deep colonies have plenty of resources but were filling the brood comb with 1:1. I pulled the feeders the other day and did as you suggested Debbie, spritzed the plastic foundation with 1:1. I had previously painted them with melted beeswax. They crawl around on it but do not yet draw any comb. I sometimes think they are harvesting what I painted on to use elsewhere.

The 4th colony is shorter on resources so I left the feeder on for a few more days. They also put syrup into the brood comb.

As of Thursday there is little to no nectar flow. Likely picking up now but can’t visit the apiary again until next Thursday.

I hope that a couple of drawn frames, and the onset of nectar, will stimulate them to draw comb in the supers. Thanks again for the offer and adivce.