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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