From: "huestis" <buzzybee@capital.net>
Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2001 23:13:54 -0700
To: <BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: Building Bees and Broodnests

Hi Dee,

Modem got blasted by lightning finally got it replaced.

> of pollen and 10 frames of honey to produce a bee, why don't more
beekeepers
> use unlimited broodnests (3 deeps) to have ample bees and stores at all
> times? Then everything supered above that is for the beekeeper..........

Good question! I don't know why for certain. I would guess the expense of
the equipment (???) I don't see how that is true though.

> Too simple?

Got me. Imagine not congesting the brood nest, having less swarms, and
rarely ever having to feed and lug all those feeders around. I leave around
120 pounds of honey per colony to winter on, why not leave the BEES honey
alone. It sure cuts down on the work involved with feeding them and is
natural.

> Kim also talks about manipulation and moving surplus pollen and honey
> around.

I leave well enough alone these things. I usually give colonies started in
late summer their winter stores provided from another (slap on a deep of
honey). Loss of crop for me, yes, but the resulting colony will be ripping
at the seams next season and give back double what it was given. Honey in
the comb is the best bee chow.

> Just how are you measuring the number of cells on a frame available for
> brood, etc?

There is no simple way to measure this. The number of cells available is
always changing throughout the season for brood rearing as the bees store
more food. I don't measure just give them more than they need (3 deep). On occasion some queens will have brood in the fourth (working the centers).
This is when I use a queen excluder for a short period.

> How do you uncongest the broodnest to keep the queen laying and more
> pollen/honey coming in or don't you pack the broodnest?

I add a frame or two of foundation or empty comb in the third box to open
it up (or second) to keep the queen going by pulling honey. Sometimes one
can reverse the first and the second box. If one wanted I suppose you could
add another brood chamber under all the rest. More techniques exist I like
the simple ones (just open up a place for the queen).

Clay