From: "huestis" <buzzybee@capital.net>
Date: Wed, 16 May 2001 10:47:31 -0700
To: <BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: Strain

Hi,

> My question, I guess, was - if a hive is on 5.2 or greater and a box of 4.9
> is placeds on top of this brood chamber would the bees draw out the 4.9?
> Lee

reply:

They could. How accurate is the problem here. I have thought about this a
great deal. Some will refuse to draw the comb. If you try this let the bees
draw the comb (measure it for accuracy) as soon as the queen moves into the
smaller cells, reverse boxes separating with queen ex. to make the queen lay
in smaller cells. As soon as the enlarged combs are free of brood remove box
(cull combs and add new 4.9mm foundation) and add next as soon as bees in
bottom box have gone through 2 brood cycles. Add the new box. Cycle repeats
until regressed. Disadvantages are:

1.May not work
2.will take longer than shaking down
3.colony may perish before getting to 4.9 (parasites)
4.absconding/swarming without drawing 4.9mm super

It's your bees try it if you want. Let me know how it works. I will use
only shake downs this season as the 4.9mm combs and bees are too valuable to
play around with.

Clay