It was brought to my attention today that a new report confirms the 
perils of drawing too much new comb.

This has been one area where new beekeepers are -- IMO -- more often 
than not led astray, and I have said so whenever I get the chance, often 
to a round of booos.

Typical official recommendations are to start on foundation and in my 
experience that typically leads to slow buildup -- if the bees don't 
starve -- poor crops, and poor wintering,  on average.

As with everything in beekeeping, just because ALL such hives don't do 
poorly or die, some will say, "See", it works.  "If I can do it, why 
can't everyone?"

Regardless of what the pundits may say, old beekeepers know that drawn 
comb is a valuable asset.

At what stage -- or age -- it becomes a liability depends on many 
factors, a big one being, did you ever use coumaphos?

Read it here:
Comb Management: National Management Survey 2010-2011
http://beeinformed.org/2012/05/national-management-survey-2010-2011-release-comb-management/

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