Renewing/replacing comb without waste.

[Rory Fields]

So I know shook swarms are looked upon poorly by many on this forum who'll have forgotten more than I'll ever learn, but I've some old, black, misshapen brood comb that's had it's fair share of chalk, sac and varroa, so I'm planning on doing a whole apiary type of Bailey Comb since each apiary is in many ways one massive single entity in many respects. I've largely got Abelo 12 framers and can otherwise drill holes and put entrance discs on brood boxes which negates the need for a specialist Bailey Board, but I'm just wondering/wanting to be reassured that once the brood in the bottom brood box under the QE has emerged and the queen is established above, the bees are likely to move any stores in the bottom box upwards? I'm delighted to dispense with the old brood comb, but it goes against my Scots' heritage to throw away even old frames full of stores. I shall of course be feeding as necessary since my breeding home apiary is nowhere near OSR. Have those who've practised Bailey Comb exchanges, or retained only a few better combs for the upstairs box found that the bees swiftly empty the bottom of stores? I'm repeating myself I know but I don't want to feed the bees this autumn only to throw away that feed in the combs in spring. I've too much on to manage feeding syrup for drawing new combs just now which I know would be the ideal, but my brother's living with me whilst he undergoes cancer treatment so bees obviously take a back seat. Thanks everyone.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

maybe investigate Demaree in future - just been going through a load of colonies today and it's surprising how few 'old' frames turn up in the brood at the end of the season - most of the old stuff is either stored away for next season's Demarees or in the stack for the totally knackered due for tomorrow's bonefire.

 

[ericbeaumont]

likely to move any stores in the bottom box upwards?

Very likely at this time of year, but I guess that you'll be doing the change when they're building next spring, in which case they won't bring it up (but may add to it).

 

[Etton]

maybe investigate Demaree in future - just been going through a load of colonies today and it's surprising how few 'old' frames turn up in the brood at the end of the season - most of the old stuff is either stored away for next season's Demarees or in the stack for the totally knackered due for tomorrow's bonefire.

Why do you use old stuff for demarees?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Why do you use old stuff for demarees?

Because a Demaree works better with drawn comb unless there is a pretty good flow on and sometimes old stuff is all you have

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Why do you use old stuff for demarees?

since I use Demaree as my primary form of swarm management, even the 'old' stuff isn't that old - the more tired frames usually end up on the autumn bonefire

 

[robmort]

since I use Demaree as my primary form of swarm management, even the 'old' stuff isn't that old - the more tired frames usually end up on the autumn bonefire

If it isn't that old why burn it? Why not just cut out the old comb and let them build new comb?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

you obviously didn't read what I said

the more tired frames usually end up on the autumn bonefire

the rest gets reused.
when I have a tidy up in the autumn/spring the frames get sorted into the stuff that's newly drawn/virgin comb, the older but good, older, but will last a while longer and the rubbish. the fresher stuff gets used first in the early summer Demaree and sometimes later on, some gets used to give a head start to newly promoted nucs. sometimes (like this year) there's quite a bit still left over so goes back into storage, it tends to be left alone by the waxmoth for another winter.

Why not just cut out the old comb and let them build new comb?

why do such a thing to start with?
life is really too short to faff around with things like that and usually leads to poorly drawn uneven frames and is especially bothersome and counter productive when you are running Demaree

 

[robmort]

You clearly have not read the subject which is ".. without waste".

Wasting frames that are not old and making new frames to replace them is a lot of "faffing about". Cutting out old wax is certainly much easier and new wax to replace it is almost always drawn as well as that with foundation.

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[Moobee]

You clearly have not read the subject which is ".. without waste".

Wasting frames that are not old and making new frames to replace them is a lot of "faffing about". Cutting out old wax is certainly much easier and new wax to replace it is almost always drawn as well as that with foundation.

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I’ve done that with a few frames and just added a couple of vertical bamboo skewers for extra support. The comb drawn was beautiful and very straight!

 

[Swarm]

I've saved a lot more frames since the price hike, I used DN5's but can't justify the extra cost any more so I'll keep reusing the ones I have until they are totally useless.

 

[Rory Fields]

So, concensus is I'd better crack on and do it now, using the fresh drawn comb I've saved for the upper brood box and ashforth or fondant slab above? Will probably nadir a super above old box as much for storage and to serve as skatted rack as anything else, and shut bottom door so they're forced to use the top. I've always wanted to see this beautiful worker comb I've heard they build in the autumn! Wish me luck!