Why Aren’t My Bees Building Comb? 5 Common Reasons and How to Fix Them Fast
Meta Description: Are your bees refusing to build comb? Learn the five most common reasons bees stop drawing wax—and the proven methods to get them back to work fast. Perfect tips for beginner beekeepers.
Keywords: bees not building comb, bees not drawing wax, beekeeping tips, beginner beekeeping, how to make bees draw comb, honey bee colony management, why bees not making comb, hive setup problems
Why Aren’t My Bees Building Comb? Causes and Fixes Every Beekeeper Should Know
One of the most frustrating moments for any beekeeper—especially beginners—is opening the hive to find that your bees still haven’t started building comb. They just cluster together, buzz around, and seem to do nothing.
Don’t worry—this is a common issue, and the good news is there’s always a reason (and a fix). Let’s take a closer look at why bees aren’t drawing comb and what you can do to help them get started.
1. Not Enough Nectar Flow
Drawing wax requires a lot of energy. If there’s little or no nectar available, bees simply won’t waste energy on building comb.
How to fix it:
-
Feed sugar syrup (1:1 ratio) to stimulate wax production. Daily feeding for a few days often triggers comb building.
-
Add a small amount of pollen patty if natural pollen is scarce—it helps maintain worker productivity.
Tip: Feeding new swarms or packages is essential until they have steady access to nectar.
2. Temperatures Are Too Low
Bees can’t produce wax efficiently unless the temperature inside the hive stays above 90°F (32°C). Cold weather or big temperature swings—especially at night—can delay comb building.
How to fix it:
-
Keep your hive warm and dry.
-
Use insulation wraps or reduce hive space with follower boards to help the colony maintain heat.
-
Place the hive in a sunny location and avoid windy areas.
3. Queen Problems
A weak, unmated, or missing queen can cause the entire colony to become restless and inactive. Without a functioning queen, bees won’t have the motivation to build new comb.
How to fix it:
-
Check for fresh eggs—this means the queen is active.
-
If no eggs or queen cells are visible, your colony might be queenless. Introduce a new queen or combine with another hive.
4. Bees Don’t Like the Smell or Texture of the Foundation
Sometimes bees reject new foundation—especially plastic foundation without wax coating. It doesn’t have the natural smell or texture they recognize.
How to fix it:
-
Lightly brush melted beeswax over the foundation to make it more attractive.
-
Insert one or two old drawn combs from another hive to encourage activity.
5. The Colony Is Too Weak
If your bee population is too small, there aren’t enough workers to keep the hive warm and produce wax. Weak colonies often cluster tightly and delay comb building.
How to fix it:
-
Combine with another weak colony to form a stronger one.
-
Continue feeding syrup until the population increases.
Bonus Tips for Encouraging Comb Building
-
Lightly mist the frames with sugar syrup—it encourages bees to groom and start working the foundation.
-
Avoid giving too much space—start with fewer frames and expand once they begin drawing comb.
-
Inspect carefully but not too often—frequent disturbance can slow down progress.
-
Make sure the frames are straight and level—bees avoid building on warped or uneven foundation.
Quick Reference Table
| Cause | Symptoms | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of nectar | Bees inactive, no wax | Feed sugar syrup & pollen |
| Cold weather | Bees cluster tightly | Insulate & reduce space |
| Queen issues | No eggs or queen cells | Requeen or combine |
| New foundation rejection | Bees ignore new frames | Add wax, use old comb |
| Weak colony | Few workers | Merge or strengthen hive |
Final Thoughts
Bees usually start drawing comb within 2–5 days after being installed in a hive.
If it’s been over a week and they’re still not working, go through the list above one by one—you’ll almost always find the culprit.
Once your bees have enough resources, warmth, and a healthy queen, they’ll waste no time turning that empty hive into a thriving home full of golden comb.
Pro Tip: Using wax-coated frames and hive components, like those from MayBee Hives, can make a big difference in helping bees settle in and start building faster.
Social Media Captions
Option 1:
🐝 Having trouble getting your bees to build comb? Don’t panic! Here are 5 proven fixes that will get your colony drawing wax again in no time. Read more at [YourBlogLink]
Option 2:
🍯 Bees not building comb? It’s more common than you think! Learn what’s really going on inside your hive—and how to fix it fast. Check out our latest beekeeping blog post!
Option 3:
👑 A healthy queen + good nectar flow = happy comb builders! Discover why your bees might not be drawing wax—and what you can do today to help them thrive.
