From: Barry Birkey <barry@birkey.com>
Date: Wed, 04 Jul 2001 23:26:33 -0500
To: <BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: summer shake downs

> colony(double). Average range from 5.0 to 5.1 cell size. Should
> I shake this colony down onto 4.9 foundation?

<snip>

> flow is on. Or should I wait until next season to shake down. All other
> frames(outside frames are 5.2mm) 5.0's are in the center of colony.

Hi Clay -

If it was me, I'd go for it.

Pros:
Supply of 4.9 combs
Colony of bees that are regressed totally to 4.9mm

Cons:
Bees die over winter

To me, having the 4.9 combs puts you in a better position as regardless how
the bees fare, you now have the tool to instantly regress bees down in one
shot. I think you have to go by your own gut feelings if you think there are
enough elements in the equation lined up to give you good odds that they
will do good on the shakedown.

Either way, you are taking a risk. If you let them go on the larger cell
comb, they still may not be able to deal with the varroa on their own and
die. If you shakedown and they get out of sink and don't get their numbers
back up by winter, they may not make it through to spring. If you have a
good flow now and typically have good fall flows, you should be able to pull
it off.

Regards,
Barry