>>I care less what the *experts* say about the amount of drone comb the bees
need to be *happy* bees. I try to keep 10% and under drone comb in the hive.
The 10% figure is often mentioned here and there. Why 10%? Does this increase your honey production?
I used to think the same but gave up on this method of scraping off any drone cells that went beyond 10% area. Now I take the frames with the most drone cells and use them for the outer frames in each box. As the colony expands in the late spring to cover these [drone] frames they raise whatever amount of drones they feel they need in those outer frames. Seems to save the bees a lot of energy in trying to rebuild scraped drone cells.
BTW, in a 3 deep hive, drone cells make up less than 10% (although they may make up more than 10% of the combined active brood cells).
>>Dee Lusby has said on BEE-L before she tries to keep drone cells 10% and
under.
What is Dee's rationale? Letting the bees raise whatever drone brood they feel they need would seem more natural.
Waldemar
Long Island, NY
____________________________________________________________
Weight Loss Program
Best Weight Loss Program - Click Here!
http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2231/c?cp=22Ag6DUbsrZ_x0ZBXXEbrgAAJz6Yh4LMlrx5Sko2bwEETtn7AAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEUgAAAAA=
***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html
Access BEE-L directly at:
http://community.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-LSOFTDONATIONS.exe?A0=BEE-L