Khalil wrote on the ability of his hives to become productive from very
different levels of brood.
 
Khalil, when I first took up beekeeping I was constantly worrying about the
health of my hives - with the exception of a queenless hive, bees have a
remarkable ability
to adjust to favourable and unfavourable conditions.  Hives with half a
frame of brood can build to productive levels after 6 weeks on a
nectar/pollen source.  Hives with 5 brood combs are poised to enter the new
season with an explosion of brood raising.
 
You do need to monitor the food supply and bee activity (this is the
attraction of beekeeping - it's fun to visit hives).  The points you need to
watch for is that there are sufficient foraging bees to bring in fresh
nectar/pollen to feed the brood.  If starting from very small population
levels, frames of sealed honey or supplementary feeding may be required
until the brood has been raised and foraging bees are in good supply.
 
A frame of brood will consume a frame of honey before the bees are old
enough to forage.  However supplies are being brought in and consumed
continually.  Check to see there is nectar available for hatching bees close
to the brood area.  The bees will increase or cut back on brood raising as
seasonal conditions fluctuate.
 
In connection with your question on the population level before Demaree
process, this is a method of artificial swarm control and requeening.  The
time to do this is as the hives reach swarming strength.  The queen requires
availability of drones.  These are at prime suitability for mating about 2
weeks after hatching so Demaree should not be considered until at least 6
weeks after hives have commenced drone rearing and at the point when the
brood box is full of brood and bees.  If the hive commences queen cells,
then it is also ready to Demaree.
 
It may be helpful for you to ask an experienced beekeeper to look at your
hives and tell you how they compare with other hives at this time of the
season and whether there are any signs of disease.
 
Betty McAdam
 
>
HOG BAY APIARY
Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island
J.H. & E. McAdam<[log in to unmask]
http://kigateway.kin.on.net/hogbay/hogbay1.htm
 
Why not visit the South Australian Superb Websites Ring?
http://kw.mtx.net/sawebring/sawebring.html