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Date: | Sat, 9 Mar 1996 12:35:08 -0700 |
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From: Allen Dick[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Saturday, March 09, 1996 6:18 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list BEE-L
Subject: Re: Recycle your Brood Combs?
Comb building beyond a point is hard on bees most times of the year
and has a cost in honey production. In some years, a lot of comb can
be built. In other years, little can be accomplished.
For me, 10% (average) is a safe amount of brood comb to replace any
year. Some hives will do more, some cannot even do that. Swarms are
quite happy to do a lot more
In my area, an agressive brood comb building program undertaken
without great care and understanding can be beekeeping suicide.
I agree that one must be careful when replacing brood comb, especially =
if this involves adding foundation to the brood chambers. We do put in =
foundation, but only in the spring, if and when the willows and =
dandelions are there to support comb building. This might not happen =
every year. For example, on a spring when the willows freeze.
We usually introduce foundation twice: during the first and second =
reversal of the brood chambers.
(sounds like lots of work, doesn't it?) Depending on the strenght of =
the hive, we will introduce 0, 1 or 2 frames into the box placed on top =
after reversal. It is important to place the foundation in the 2nd =
position from the edge so that you don't separate the brood nest. We =
have found success doing it this way. When we go around to reverse the =
second time, we will add foundation to the other box *if conditions are =
right for it."
Kevin Christensen
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