On 13/12/2010 3:20 AM, randy oliver wrote:
> May I ask you again for details on experiments that you've run that actually
> compared the buildup of nucs (or the spam can of bees) in boxes of various
> sizes, but made of the same material--so that any insulation effect is held
> constant?

I wouldn't attempt to comment on cold climate beekeeping, Australian 
mainland having very little really cold weather and me being in a 
subtropical damp area.  That said there are always the other confounding 
effects on hives.

Before we got chalkbrood and laterley small hive beetle I routinely made 
up increase in the spring by splitting a good hive into nine, one frame 
of brood and one of honey plus seven foundation or drawn combs plus 
queen cell.  By Christmas put on a super.

Nowadays I have to make them up in nucs, four frames of emerging brood 
plus extra bees (more than was covering the combs).  Then put them into 
hive bodies when they are very strong nucs, and hope. I have also found 
that it is better when I put them out, if the other five combs are 
foundation rather than drawn comb.  I assume that the foundation gives 
less room for hive beetle to hide.

Surely varroa must make it hard to tease out the best US/Canada 
overwintering method/s?

Geoff Manning

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