Drone foundation in supers.

[beebopalula]

Does anyone use drone foundation in supers?

 

[Poly Hive]

There are obvious risks to it. A false economy in my thoughts.

PH

 

[Black Comb]

Speaking to an experienced beek today about this. He always uses it.
Says less work for bees.

 

[Nic Rhodes]

Quite good for those viscous honies with a high yield stress, makes the honey easier to extract as less cells per volume. This means less leass surface area of walls. I had friends who swore by it for their crops.

 

[Poly Hive]

Until a slim queen slides through and has fun upstairs... drones anyone?

PH

 

[Nic Rhodes]

never had a single queen in a super in 35 years she lays the drones on the drone foundation / cells I give her in the brood box.

 

[Poly Hive]

I do hope you touched wood when you claimed that one...

Had more than a few get up. Always used worker foundation. Viscous honeys? Worker foundation with double wiring works for Heather and the bashing from the loosner.

PH

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Read a few threads (see below) and I have decided to give it a go this year.

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=15578&highlight=drone+foundation
http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=12316&highlight=drone+foundation+supers

 

[moor141]

Used it last year no problems, will use it again.

 

[Queens59]

I tried it last year and they put stores in...but they had a rough year so only they benefitted...This year I have just ordered KBS standard.

 

[Nic Rhodes]

I do hope you touched wood when you claimed that one...

Had more than a few get up. Always used worker foundation. Viscous honeys? Worker foundation with double wiring works for Heather and the bashing from the loosner.

PH

No need to touch wood, it ones goes 'up' it is hardly a major issue to deal with. I am ditching some QE on some hives types next year anyway so gives an indication on quite how low priority I see it. If it it happens, well it ain't rocket science or years to fix it. You just deal with it. If it happens.

 

[beebopalula]

Many thanks for your replies - I will give it a go.

 

[Poly Hive]

There was a post recently Nic saying that there was a guidance that honey for sale was not allowed to be in brood combs.

Working my way, which is to say comb only I cannot obviously have queens in the supers.

PH

 

[Into the lions den]

Speaking to an experienced beek today about this. He always uses it.
Says less work for bees.

There has been research on this, but exactly where it took place I cannot recall. The conclusion was that it is a myth. There is no less wax building by the bees as drone cells tend to be of slightly heavier construction.

Larger cells ARE easier to extract however.

No use whatsoever to us as we give the bees total free run of the hive after early July. Drome comb then turns into a varroa factory. Even without the Q getting upstairs we find the bees moving eggs up into the supers and drone patches in the supers often are a bit broody. Sometimes we find the bees have emptied out any drone patches, especially in the centre combs of the lowest super, in the hope the Q can get up there to lay.

Experimented with it long ago, as I too had heard from experienced people of the benefits. Will not be doing it again. Its a waste of time and introduces another incompatibility into the system.

 

[Tim1606]

There has been research on this, but exactly where it took place I cannot recall. The conclusion was that it is a myth. There is no less wax building by the bees as drone cells tend to be of slightly heavier construction.

Larger cells ARE easier to extract however.

No use whatsoever to us as we give the bees total free run of the hive after early July. Drome comb then turns into a varroa factory. Even without the Q getting upstairs we find the bees moving eggs up into the supers and drone patches in the supers often are a bit broody. Sometimes we find the bees have emptied out any drone patches, especially in the centre combs of the lowest super, in the hope the Q can get up there to lay.

Experimented with it long ago, as I too had heard from experienced people of the benefits. Will not be doing it again. Its a waste of time and introduces another incompatibility into the system.

I assume you mean they move drone eggs up there? If that is the case, why would they not move worker eggs up if it was worker comb, or do they? Have never come across it myself but would like to know if it is possible out of interest.