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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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Subject:
From:
James Fischer <[log in to unmask]>
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Date:
Sat, 8 Nov 2008 18:09:27 -0500
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>> or get any tangible results
>> from merely forcing the bees into a smaller cell size

> You are likely to see healthier bees from moving 
> bees onto a smaller cell size simply because the 
> brood combs are NEW and therefore not carrying 
> a load of infective material of one sort or another.

Agreed, but anyone who does not renew brood comb on
a regular cycle is acting foolishly.  I use flat
metal colored thumbtacks that match the queen colors, 
and replace 2 frames per box each year, so that 
no comb is older than 5 years.  The best part is that
it is self-documenting.  No record-keeping required.

Sadly, even this may not be enough.  I've heard that
overseas work (maybe Sweden?) has shown that cycling
combs over 3 years is better, but the same sort of
scheme could be employed.  

Funny, I've neever heard anyone describe the specifics
of their comb rotation scheme.  Does this mean that
everyone else does it by eyeballing the comb condition?

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