For quite some time I have wondered what would be the optimum hive conditions
necessary to encourage brood raising without regard to the quantity of syrup
and pollen necessary to sustain brood rearing.

We have a green house in which we can regulate temperatures fairly well.  If
we provide access to the outdoors via 1" plastic tubing, what would be the
ideal temperature inside the green house that would assist the hives in
regulating their hive temperature at 95 degrees Fahrenheit? (I understand
this to be the temperature they maintain in their cluster.) I have considered
that a constant temperature of 70 to 80 degrees F. might be ideal since body
heat will should partially raise the temperature.

I want to run some tests on raising brood to supplement weak hives or taking
weak hives and reviving them under ideal conditions.  We also want to see if
we can rear queens cost effectively under ideal conditions to get an early
start for the spring.

It would be interesting to see if these hives would be more disease resistant
(or less susceptible to disease) if the stress factors in the hive could be
reduced or eliminated.

Besides regulating temperatures and food and water supplies, what other
factors must one consider?

Thanks,

Ed Costanza