> I read somewhere,(an old ('87?) Bee Culture?), an opinion >concerning the fact that brood chamber foundation with holes is >better overall for the bees. It was in relation to wintering and >providing easier cluster migration from frame to frame. The bees do >not have to go to the edges of the frames to move from one frame to >the next in very cold weather. > > Other than the cells lost to the holes is there a downside. >I have the feeling sometimes that my idea of what would be a perfect >set of brood frames, nice and tidy and even with no holes, and what >would serve the bees best might be quite different. The natural comb >in feral hives seems to have alot more pathways. > > Do the removable frames provide more "order" for my >convenience at some hidden expense to the bees? Would providing a >hole or two be worth considering when introducing new foundation? > > Comments? > > Jim Moore > [log in to unmask] Jim About 5 years ago Steve Taber of Honey Bee Genetics wrote for the american Bee journal. One of the ideas for wintering which he wrote about was a hole in the middle of the comb for the bees to use as you discribed, move from fram to fram while still clustered. I thried it here in Alaska but was unable to determine if it helped I think it did .. At the time I was also trying some very aggresive Ideas concerning wintering and that one was not Isolated and tested so I cant quatify information for you. But I think it is a good idea. Jerry Fries