small cell and catching swarms

[NeilV]

How does use of small cell relate to catching swarms. Will caught swarms have to be regressed? Does that depend on whether they were feral or out of somebody's hive that had regular cell foundation? Is it a bad idea to put a caught swarm directly on small cell foundation?

Also, what would happen if I buy bees that are raised on small cell (such as from Fat/Beeman) and then put them on regular sized foundation?

I'm just starting out and I'm trying to decide whether to start will small cell or not, and these were just some of my random thoughts.

Thanks.

[Michael Bush]

>How does use of small cell relate to catching swarms.

Little.

>Will caught swarms have to be regressed?

That would depend on where they came from of course.

>Does that depend on whether they were feral or out of somebody's hive that had regular cell foundation?

And how many generations from domestic they are. If they are only one, they will only be partially regressed.

> Is it a bad idea to put a caught swarm directly on small cell foundation?

Not at all. It's always an excellent idea to put any swarm, package or other source of bees on small cell foundation. Why would it be a bad idea?

>Also, what would happen if I buy bees that are raised on small cell (such as from Fat/Beeman) and then put them on regular sized foundation?

In one generation you'll undo all the work of regression.

>I'm just starting out and I'm trying to decide whether to start will small cell or not, and these were just some of my random thoughts.

It will save a lot of work to start on it now rather than later.