[log in to unmask] wrote:
>
>                 I attempt to run all hives with two queens for cut comb
> honey. Base hive is 3 full depth supers,old queen bottom,excluder with
> cleats on 3 sides to make available an entrance at the front for the bees of
> second box which has the second queen. Second excluder on second box,third
> box for honey and to act as a buffer to keep pollen out of comb honey. Works
> OK.Last season I tried 3 queens and it worked no trouble so I guess the
> number of queens that you run using the vertical system is limited by the
> height of the ladder that you own.
>                 Have just received manual from Un.Minnesota Extension
> Service "Beekeeping in Northern Climates" which says on page 43"research
> shows the horizontal two queen system is more productive than the vertical
> two queen system" so I guess its back to the drawing board for me.
>                                                 RBB.
I have done considerable reasearch on "condominium" type colonies while
doing research work in Europe. Europeans have contemplated the idea for
many years, especially in France and Spain. I have operated some
colonies myself. I have found that it works very well during the "nectar
flow" season.
   **The principle works because the pheromones of the queens stimulate
each other to lay and thus produce very large bee populations under one
roof. CAUTION: Beware of swarms! These type of colonies generate VERY
large swarms and quite frequently because they tend to get crowded fast.
I have some reference books that I could quote for you but they are in
SPANISH! (Incidentally: these books are almost collectable items because
they were writen by an emminent Spanish professor by the name of Dr.
Fabrega) who in his day was almost as famous as Brother Adam).
Please feel free to contact me on this subject if you desire more info.
Sincerely.
DR. PEDRO P. RODRIGUEZ