Susan L. Nielsen wrote:
>
> Tell me, if one has some frames which are substantially filled
> with capped honey comb, but which have small areas of capped
> brood comb, and one returns these frames to the hive after
> extracting (being a small-timer, I would not consider wasting the
> frames just because they contain a few brood cells; the extractor
> and the strainer are quite fine for separating them; I do not have
> an yuck quotient ;-) in my makeup), will the bees reuse the brood
> areas for honey storage?
>
> Should I cut out the brood areas and make them draw new comb
> to compell the bees to use it for honey storage?
>
> Or, as I have found to be the case in other matters, should I
> just trust the bees to know how to deal with things? They seem
> to be pretty able at managerial decisions.
>
 Susan,
 
I am sure this will not be a popular response, but I make no distinction
between brood comb, and honey comb.  I know that there is a lot of
verbage on this subject, but my honey has always tasted great, and has
been popular with others (even those who "don't like honey", because all
they have tasted is blended over heated commercial varieties).  I say
just use it and don't worry about it.  When your combs get too dark,
replace them completely.
 
--
"Test everything.  Hold on to the good."  (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
 
Tom Elliott
Chugigak,  Alaska
U.S.A.
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