Worker egg laying in drone foundation

[user 3509]

This might be a silly question but will a queen ever layer worker brood in drone foundation if there is no worker foundation available?

 

[Erichalfbee]

I can't answer that except to say that a beginner some years ago,let loose on an association hive without supervision, put a nuc into a full size hive with drone foundation and it was all laid up as drone.
If you get queen from Ron Hoskins he asks you to put a frame of drone foundation in to increase the number of drones the colony produces.....but that's not the same as having no alternative place to lay

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

This might be a silly question but will a queen ever layer worker brood in drone foundation if there is no worker foundation available?

Queen is a laying machine - nothing more, if she measures the cell and it's drone size, she will lay an unfertilised egg

 

[Millet]

How come i got drones in normal foundation last year ? , do the bees know when too make a bigger batch of cells for when drones are needed.

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

Yes - spot on.

Dusty

 

[Erichalfbee]

How come i got drones in normal foundation last year ? , do the bees know when too make a bigger batch of cells for when drones are needed.

Yes, they are in charge.

 

[masterBK]

If you provide drone foundation and the workers determine that worker comb is required they have been know to modify it or chew it back and draw worker cells on it.

 

[Millet]

I had a very good idea that they do just that, which slightly confused me when i here folk mentioning drone foundation.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

bees are happy early on in the season to have loads of drones - if they only have worker cells they will break them down and make drone cells - if they're given drone foundation they will just go bonkers and build drone cells - especially away from the brood nest (supers) as it's only used for storage I think eventually they may take a deep breath and realise they need worker cells as well but by that time you will have a heck of a lot of drones on the hive.

 

[Poly Hive]

The reason for Drone Foundation is that people who are queen rearing or using AI want lots of drones.

Also some are using it to trap Varroa though when I checked mine (in for q rearing) I couldn't find any sign of mites. Must admit that puzzled me more than a bit.

Also by supplying Dreon Foundation there is supposed to be less temptation for the workers to tweak the worker combs to have drone cells.

PH

 

[Tremyfro]

My bees made huge cells in the supers for storing honey. Someone told me it's because they can use less wax.

 

[Millet]

Lets say we start of with a Nuc a nuc with 5 frames of brood / food and bees, all of which is on standard foundation and the outer frames are standard fresh wax foundation.
The bees will obviously go through there life building workers cells by the thousands and some drone cells and in doing so fill the brood box with various sized cells.
What i have digested is we go through a several year cycle of frames and slowly move the old outwards away from the brood area.
Therefore we have the same original frames in place from day one until they are removed, the bees will obviously tear these frames to bits over the years to alter the size for what they want just like a wild colony in a tree would do and like stated by other knowledgeable beeks they will do the same on drone foundation.
I personally do not see the point in drone foundation with all that i have witnessed and read over the years.

 

[Fatbee]

I don't see the point of foundation full stop. Let the bees decide

 

[Millet]

I don't see the point of foundation full stop. Let the bees decide

 

[Arfermo]

My bees made huge cells in the supers for storing honey. Someone told me it's because they can use less wax.

One can put drone foundation in shallow frames in the supers for precisely that result - more honey, less wax and easier extraction.

 

[Marton]

One can put drone foundation in shallow frames in the supers for precisely that result - more honey, less wax and easier extraction.

And less chance of pollen being stored in the super.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Poly Hive]

I am pondering the reaction to the box of frames full of wild comb....at every angle to the frame bar the right one....

Waily waily I suspect.

PH

 

[Gilberdyke John]

I don't see the point of foundation full stop. Let the bees decide

Cue Finman

 

[Fatbee]

I almost said his name but thought best to not say it out aloud! I'm sure he will be back soon.

 

[Fatbee]

I am pondering the reaction to the box of frames full of wild comb....at every angle to the frame bar the right one....

Waily waily I suspect.

PH

Not if a starter strip is used and the hive is level. I struggle to spot the difference to those combs where foundation has been used.