From: scott.novinger@airborne.com
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 17:42:00 -0700
To: BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Shake Down Methods

Hi All,

Thanks Barry and Clay for your feedback on the starter strips, especially the
pictures - Barry. Thanks, Micky, for saying hello to Ted for me.

I've got a question about shaking down. When you shake bees down to continue
the regression process to 4.9 cell size, what is the procedure that you use?
My concerns are these:

1. Timing - At what point in the season is the best time to shake down.
2. Brood - What do you do with the brood in the "old" combs.
3. Strength - Does shaking down affect the ability of the bees to build up
enough strength for the winter.
4. Stores - What is done with the stores the bees have put in the "old" combs?
5. Product - Should you expect to receive any honey from the bees during the
shakedown season?

Do you take the old combs away and let them start from ground zero? Or is it
a gradual process of weaning them off of the old combs while providing new
foundation?

Thank you all in advance for your help!

Scott
scott.novinger@airborne.com