Worldwide Beekeeping
Beekeeping => Beekeeping 101 => Topic started by: 40 Acre Bees on June 20, 2016, 05:59:46 am
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How often should one replace comb in the brood boxes. I have some old comb here that is quite dark and I am not sure if I should give it to my recently captured swarm or let them draw new. I am also not quite sure about rotating the old out of my other brood boxes. I would have to replace it with undrawn foundation. Thanks in Advance.. :)
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I think they recommend replacing 20% of your comb every year. Honey supers of course is a different thing altogether. Most keeps I know keep comb a lot longer than that, me included. If it isn't black, and is still in good shape and the comb is good, I will stretch out the time.
One advantage I have selling the nucs that I do is that I have a high comb rotation because of it.
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I have heard recommendations of 5 years or less on brood frames. The problem is not old, hard, black foundation but with pesticide levels slowly building up in the wax. Last year I started using a sharpie to date new frames when I install them. I will know exactly how old my frames are.
I don't date my honey super frames.
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I use bees Wax foundation and do what my old mentors taught me,hold the frame up to the light and if i can see light through it, it's good to go :yes: But, if you use that stinky plastic junk that already has chemicals in it? i suppose you would have to replace or scrape the wax off more often. ;D Jack
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Agreed Jack ;)
On old dark comb, I like to press the comb in just a little. If the wax is still somewhat pliable I keep it another season. But if the wax is crumbly then I figure it needs replacing.
And, now that I am learning more about selling nucs this year, I see the advantage of the rotation of frames in my yard.
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For What?
lazy
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For What?
lazy
;) ;) ;) :D :D :D
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:laugh: :laugh: Brood Boxes :laugh: :laugh: