Combining hives

[pargyle]

I only suggested he might want to think about it!

No ... I'd agree ... just think about it ...no harm in thinking.

Doing it ...that's something else that you should REALLY REALLY think about ...

 

[Erichalfbee]

Don't worry - the faD on the dark side at the moment is to change ALL the comb EVERY year by the easiest and most beneficial method known:

SHOOK SWARM!!!!!​

Yep. Change the comb
Change the queen
That sorts just about everything

 

[Softley]

Yep. Change the comb
Change the queen
That sorts just about everything

I'm suggesting thinking about changing old black comb in a brood box that has no bees in it, was possibly the brood box the OP had dead bees in last season, has had a colony fail in this season and could be harbouring disease. Why do people have an issue with that?

 

[Erichalfbee]

I'm suggesting thinking about changing old black comb in a brood box that has no bees in it, was possibly the brood box the OP had dead bees in last season, has had a colony fail in this season and could be harbouring disease. Why do people have an issue with that?

I don't have any issues.
I was having a joke with Emyr which is why I quoted him

 

[Softley]

Doing it ...that's something else that you should REALLY REALLY think about ...

Hardly the end of the world, replacing black comb in an empty brood box with fresh foundation.

 

[Softley]

I don't have any issues.
I was having a joke with Emyr which is why I quoted him

It's the beginners section. Why not answer with a helpful response?

 

[Erichalfbee]

It's the beginners section. Why not answer with a helpful response?

So neither thread divergence nor humour is allowed in the beginners' section. I must remember that in future.

 

[Softley]

So neither thread divergence nor humour is allowed in the beginners' section. I must remember that in future.

It's not funny when three people or so come along and belittle your advice without offering alternative useful information. It is an open discussion forum but it's only of any value if there's reasoned debate. So far, all I've heard is 'comb change is rubbish' without anyone paying much attention to the actual topic.

 

[Erichalfbee]

For heaven's sake, Mr Softley; I wasn't belittling your advice I was having a joke about shook swarming according to various proponents in the BBKA and about Finman's oft quoted cure, with a friend.

 

[Softley]

For heaven's sake, Mr Softley; I wasn't belittling your advice I was having a joke about shook swarming according to various proponents in the BBKA and about Finman's oft quoted cure, with a friend.

And therein lies the problem. Beginners don't know that. People unfamiliar with connections between one forum member and another don't know that.

Is it too much to expect a beginners section of a forum to be a place for beginners to ask questions and get relevant answers without all the confusing off-topic banter between the in-crowd?

 

[Amari]

I think you need to read the posts more carefully. The OP didn't say whether the paper was perforated or not, and I didn't say it should be. You seem to be misquoting my comments and then saying what I've already said.
It all gets a bit confusing and distracts from the OP's thread.

Apologies, sorry to upset you Softley

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

For heaven's sake, Mr Softley; I wasn't belittling your advice I was having a joke about shook swarming according to various proponents in the BBKA and about Finman's oft quoted cure, with a friend.

Think he needs to join the hanky wringers on the BBKA FB page.
Fit in well there

 

[Softley]

Think he needs to join the hanky wringers on the BBKA FB page.
Fit in well there

That's nice. Says a lot about you really.

 

[Softley]

Apologies, sorry to upset you Softley

It's ok. I'm not upset.

 

[pargyle]

And therein lies the problem. Beginners don't know that. People unfamiliar with connections between one forum member and another don't know that.

Is it too much to expect a beginners section of a forum to be a place for beginners to ask questions and get relevant answers without all the confusing off-topic banter between the in-crowd?

They may be beginners in this section but most of them are grown ups - I'm sure they can think for themselves and separate the humour and joshing from the good advice.

Beekeeping is all about making decisions based on what you see in the hive, what knowledge you have absorbed on your beekeeping journey (from all sources - good and bad) and from reading the debates on here about the different options available. Everyone has heard the old beekeeping adage about asking three beekeepers the same question and getting five different answers ... Beginners beware - it never gets any better - more time is spent in beekeeping wondering what the best plan is than actually doing what you decide. Get used to it...

This forum is well known for healthy debate - sometimes furious debate and occasional arguments ... if you want question and answer and a sterile environment this is not the place to be. Personally - I've learnt more on here than from any other beekeeping source - stuff you will NEVER find in the books - thought provoking and often innovative ...

 

[Softley]

They may be beginners in this section but most of them are grown ups - I'm sure they can think for themselves and separate the humour and joshing from the good advice.

Beekeeping is all about making decisions based on what you see in the hive, what knowledge you have absorbed on your beekeeping journey (from all sources - good and bad) and from reading the debates on here about the different options available. Everyone has heard the old beekeeping adage about asking three beekeepers the same question and getting five different answers ... Beginners beware - it never gets any better - more time is spent in beekeeping wondering what the best plan is than actually doing what you decide. Get used to it...

This forum is well known for healthy debate - sometimes furious debate and occasional arguments ... if you want question and answer and a sterile environment this is not the place to be. Personally - I've learnt more on here than from any other beekeeping source - stuff you will NEVER find in the books - thought provoking and often innovative ...

Now, there's a well reasoned and healthy response.

I would argue that the humour and joshing isn't always obvious to newcomers looking at one post in a forum, especially when they don't know the people participating in the written conversation or the relationships that may exist between them. It can be difficult, especially when comments are written in an informal style, to distinguish what is advice and what is sarcasm, or what may just be a joke between two friends.

I'm not looking for advice in a sterile environment, I just think that sometimes what people say can easily be misconstrued and more consideration should be given to what section people are posting in. I thought the beginners section was set up so that beginners could post questions they might not want to post in other areas of the forum through fear of being ridiculed. Surely it works both ways and more experienced beekeepers can also post here, without brash responses from others?

 

[pargyle]

Now, there's a well reasoned and healthy response.

.... I thought the beginners section was set up so that beginners could post questions they might not want to post in other areas of the forum through fear of being ridiculed. Surely it works both ways and more experienced beekeepers can also post here, without brash responses from others?

I thought it was set up to isolate a section from the real rough and tumble of the main forum ... there are still people who are not allowed to post in here.

I think, generally, people behave well in this section and advice is usually given comprehensively, in a friendly tone and generally not in any judgemental way.

One of the 'difficulties' (if you can call it that) of this forum is that it is so well populated that threads move very quickly. You really need to dip in daily to keep up and it is easy to take a post out of context if you don't follow the whole thread - we've all done it - leapt in brandishing the cutlass only to find that you've completely got the wrong end of the stick because you've missed a page of posts !

I've got a warped sense of humour, I know I have ... read what I post regularly and you'll quickly separate the humour from the serious bits .. buuuuut ... I dread to think what some of my posts look like in isolation ... and there's a few others like this - all part of the forums rich tapestry.

 

[Erichalfbee]

One of the 'difficulties' (if you can call it that) of this forum is that it is so well populated that threads move very quickly. You really need to dip in daily to keep up and it is easy to take a post out of context if you don't follow the whole thread - we've all done it - leapt in brandishing the cutlass only to find that you've completely got the wrong end of the stick because you've missed a page of posts !

Philip you've hit the nail on the head
Me too now it would seem
Might I recommend the Sudden Huge Mite Drop thread to abbot ale to amply illustrate that even experienced beekeepers need help some time and how they are endeavouring to wade through the swamp.

 

[abbot ale]

So basically its fine to leave the comb for another year, or, if I wish I can change it for fresh foundation.

 

[Erichalfbee]

So basically its fine to leave the comb for another year, or, if I wish I can change it for fresh foundation.

I've lost track of this thread, sorry.
If the comb has come from healthy stock and is sound then by all means keep it. Bees like old comb to live in but the queen likes new comb to lay in. That's why in a a wild nest, if space allows, the nest is extended downwards with the old brooded comb being filled with stores. There is no problem with the queen laying in old comb in the spring when the bees are back at the top of the nest again.
Replace if you wish but don't do it till next year now. The bees are winter prepping and need to be left alone. Good luck.