Newbie foundationless plan
I'm a first year beekeeper, starting with 5 frame nucs (on foundation) this month. I want to try to go foundationless, and have done a great deal of reading about this. I know there are risks and frustrations, but want to try anyway.
I've read a lot on this forum about foundationless management, but I want to have a step-by-step plan for a beginner. I know I might have to abandon the plan when chaos sets in! I'm hoping you all will comment on the plan and questions I have below.
Just to be clear, I am NOT asking for a debate on the pros and cons of going foundationless, or opinions about whether I should try foundationless as a newbie. I simply want the first steps for someone who is simultaneously learning about beekeeping as a whole, and learning about managing foundationless hives.
Here's a bit about my set-up: Only deep nucs were available to me, so I'm starting with a deep brood box (8 frame). I want to use only mediums as supers, and transition to an all medium hive next year. I have a bunch of deep and medium frames with foundation, and a shipment of medium foundationless frames from Kelly's arriving soon that have a comb guide already on them.
Here is what I'm thinking - please edit as you see fit:
1. Install my 5 frame nuc in the 8 frame deep, alternating pairs of drawn nuc frames with single undrawn deep frames. I'm considering going ahead and trimming out the foundation of these undrawn frames (leaving a guide-strip at the top), but could start with foundation in this box.
2. When it is time to expand the brood box, I'll add a medium. Should I just put a box full of medium foundationless frames on? Or should the medium have a mix of frames with and without foundation in an alternating pattern? Or, should I go further and take a frame of drawn comb from the deep, cut it to medium size, and hang it in a medium frame with rubber bands?
3. When it is time to add honey supers, I'll add a medium. This is the part I'm worried about, because I understand that in foundationless, the bees want to draw deeper comb. I'm thinking I'll take a frame or two of the drawn comb from the medium part of the brood chamber, and start the honey box with that, alternating with and foundationless frames.
Am I way off base?
Thanks for your advice!