Swapping out brood boxes

[Floyd]

Morning, just a quick question.


One of my hives has become a propolis factory this year, so I was thinking of swapping out the brood box. This is not something that I have considered before, is this something that is general practice.

The current BB has been in use for 3 seasons.

Is the creation of large amounts of Propolis a genetic factor with the queen , as I cant see that anything else in the BB has changed.

Have a good day, and enjoy the benefits of a good flow.

Many thanks

Lee

 

[enrico]

Morning, just a quick question.


One of my hives has become a propolis factory this year, so I was thinking of swapping out the brood box. This is not something that I have considered before, is this something that is general practice.

The current BB has been in use for 3 seasons.

Is the creation of large amounts of Propolis a genetic factor with the queen , as I cant see that anything else in the BB has changed.

Have a good day, and enjoy the benefits of a good flow.

Many thanks

Lee

I don't know about genes but bees and propolis go together.

 

[pargyle]

Some bees are really propolis factories... others less so...luck of the draw. Changing the box won't make any difference...they will just set about the new box in the same way. I have one colony that are like that.. I just live with it., if its what the bees want I think they should be allowed to do it. Yes it's sticky and makes life a bit difficult when inspecting but it's not something that requires treatment... just a bucket of washing soda solution and judicial use of your hive tool. If the colony is good in others respects...why try and change them ?

 

[ericbeaumont]

a propolis factory

Fit a propolis screen and harvest later this year; keep clean, freeze screen, crunch up over clean paper. Sell locally in little glass jars; expect to ask £10/25g, or more of your market will bear it.

Promote the anti-bacterial, anti-septic, anti-viral and antioxidant properties; eat it raw, or stand for a month in a jar of overproof rum or vodka; use as a tincture.

 

[Erichalfbee]

stand for a month in a jar of overproof rum or vodka; use as a tincture.

Any issue with selling alcohol?

 

[ericbeaumont]

Any issue with selling alcohol?

Ah, yes, probably. I sell it plain in tiny shards, and make the tincture for home use.