Bailey Comb change

[reigate]

I am hoping to replace old comb this season using the Bailey comb change,
I have read on some sites that this can be done in late March . Is this not too early and it should be done before Drones are produced.
any advice please.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

too early - you want the colony to have built up and looking for more space.
And what have you got against drones?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Im doing two and will play it by ear. Hoping for Mid April.
I never worry about a few drones. Just buy or make a Bailey board( Thorne have a picture on their website) After you have closed the bottom entrance the drones can get out at the top.

 

[Poly Hive]

Why do it? The point is please?

PH

 

[Erichalfbee]

Why do it? The point is please?

PH

Can’t speak for Reigate but for me. I have one full size colony that I got late last year on old frames three of which are actually super frames. The other us a nuc from one of my neighbours that was made from a spare queen cell. They were going to just throw the bees up in the air in front of their other hives. It is on five hundred year old frames with holes in them and wires poking out. I intend to give both these colonies away in new frames to beginners. For me it’s a sensible way of doing it.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

It's a far more sensible and less severe way of changing old frames than following those clowns who worship the false idol of the 'shook swarm'

 

[Swarm]

Can’t speak for Reigate but for me. I have one full size colony that I got late last year on old frames three of which are actually super frames. The other us a nuc from one of my neighbours that was made from a spare queen cell. They were going to just throw the bees up in the air in front of their other hives. It is on five hundred year old frames with holes in them and wires poking out. I intend to give both these colonies away in new frames to beginners. For me it’s a sensible way of doing it.

Only five hundred? I reckon there's a few seasons left in them

 

[Curly green finger's]

Only five hundred? I reckon there's a few seasons left in them

Did they even put wire in frames 500 years ago [emoji16]

Sent from my YAL-L21 using Tapatalk

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Did they even put wire in frames 500 years ago [emoji16]

Sent from my YAL-L21 using Tapatalk

Not sure - ask Finman

 

[Curly green finger's]

Not sure - ask Finman

Your saying finman is 500 years old.. I new he was an old fossil

Sent from my YAL-L21 using Tapatalk

 

[MerryBee]

Last year I used a Bailey to move a strong colony from standard national frames to 14x12. By 25th March the colony already had 9 frames of brood and I started the bailey by adding the box of 14x12 foundation above. Four days later, and without feeding, they had drawn out the entire box except for the 2 outside frames and the queen was upstairs laying eggs in it.

BUT THAT WAS LAST YEAR, when everything seemed to be well ahead of a "normal" year. You have to judge the right time depending on the strength of your colony. What is right for one colony one year wont be right for a different colony in a different year. You cant do beekeeping by numbers.

 

[Millet]

Enrico (Eric) educated me on the best method..(not that i remember on some days) ..
The very outer frame on one side or the other of the brood nest rarely gets touched..(Buckfast Dependent)..simply take the outer frame out and slide all the frames over to fill the space and put a new frame in the other side..on weekly inspections..a bit like a type writer but slower..