Allen Dick wrote:

>
> What puzzles me is that they stated -- after carefully explaining the
> measurement method -- was that a hive could and should be expected to have from
> 6 to 12 (Yup, TWELVE) full frames of brood when going to pollination.
>
>
> How do we get twelve?
>
> I can only conclude that I must be counting assuming that one frame requires
> both sides to be 100% full of brood, and everyone else is counting each side as
> a frame of brood.  This is the weakness in such a measurement.
>

> What say ye all?
>
> allen

Well Allen,
        On the other hand that would mean the 6 frame recommendation is really
3 full frames. Three frames of brood would be OK as long as the queen
was actively laying and there were plenty of field bees. The only time I
would find it acceptable to charge for that, would be if the queen was
late starting, I removed frames of brood and knew the queen was good, or
she had only been laying in the hive a short time as she was recently
added, or there was a significant number of uncapped and/or eggs.
        For berries, brambles or similarly attractive plants, 3 full frames
would do. For flowers requiring large numbers of visits such as the
cucurbits, there had better be a good reason for the small amount of
brood and the queen is a real good one.

Thom Bradley
Tidewater Beekeeper's Association
http://groups.hamptonroads.com/beekeepers