I’m most videos I see those frames against the outer wall. I see in this one it’s moved over. I’m assuming you move them closer to the nest to get them drawn out?
Thank you for another informative video. We started using the drone comb trying to manipulate as much as possible the genetics of the yards; we are trying to part as much from the Italians breed as their robbing tendencies are very annoying and counterproductive, so we are trying to facilitate new genetics by using drone comb; removing the drones from Italian hives and introducing drone frames of Carniolans and Russians with less propensity to robbing and Caucasians as they are very gentle, this way we're trying to develop our own mutt this way. Interesting coincidence is that during a recent interview to Daniel Weaver, he mention that that is the way they developed their Beeweaver breed which is very popular for their Varroa hygenic behavior.
An idea I got from another beek is to cut a plastic frame of foundation in half and let the bees draw out the outer sides with drone comb and worker in the middle half. This frame I mark and put in position 3 or 7 in the box. If the hive is going to swarm that 1/2 frame of Fdn is where they will put at least one or two swarm cells so if I'm checking for swarm cells that's the frame I check first. And like you said they tend to not mess up the other frames with drone brood and less burr comb between boxes. And I save money on fdn.
Everything you said makes sense based on my anecdotal experience. I got almost all of my bees from cut outs. Now that im making splits and all the frames have plastic foundation inside of their natural comb, I’ve noticed that that will build drone cells at the bottom of the plastic foundation. Typically on the 2nd frame from the outside. And they do have about 20% drone comb in the wild. I think 10% is fine in a managed environment but I’m not making that claim with any expertise behind it. Bees are more spread out in the wild. A yard with a frame of drone in each should be able to mate a lot of queens.
Bob, instead of buy drone foundations I just put one or two medium frames in the brood box and they draw out drone comb attached to the bottom of the medium frames.
I've been considering adding one of those to a colony. Ti increase the odds of getting queens mated. Llost a few colonies to starvation and need to build back up.
Hi Bob, I like the idea of having frames raised with worker cells. I put the empty wooden frame at the edge of the colony and the bees build it from scratch with drone cells.
Hey Bob! Enjoyed your thoughts on drone frames. Dedicated drone frames sure has cleaned up the wonky drone cells and has helped tremendously with much better drone saturation. Thanks for sharing!
I wanted to say thank you for your videos and the service you provide to new and established bee keepers. You are succinct, well researched, share your experience over the million or so hives you managed over your lifetime, and are open to learn new things (that is pretty rare). If I only have time for one bee keeping video before I do splits or something else that could be tricky, your videos get first billing!
Hi Bob, you always seem to bring out what might be a simple idea or solution that hasn’t been presented in the way you do it. This issue has been a problem for me with messy combs, burr comb in between frames. I also do queen rearing so I want the drones also. I almost thought of cutting an inch off the bottoms the plastic foundations in a colony this year to let them draw drones cells there instead of in between the frames. I am glad I did not do that way because how you do it is way better and makes a lot more sense. Thank you so much for sharing.
Completely agreed re the need for drones. I give them foundationless frames, which achieves something similar. One nice side effect, as you say, is that I don't get any burr comb jammed between boxes, or above frames.
Really enjoyed this video I just removed a frame that had 80% drones and didn’t understand why they had patches of drones until I examined the old comb that I had.
I’m most videos I see those frames against the outer wall. I see in this one it’s moved over. I’m assuming you move them closer to the nest to get them drawn out?
I kind of laughed about this one Because I was one that ask you about it but I ask why you use plastic. Thank you I always laun a lot from you.
Thank you for another informative video. We started using the drone comb trying to manipulate as much as possible the genetics of the yards; we are trying to part as much from the Italians breed as their robbing tendencies are very annoying and counterproductive, so we are trying to facilitate new genetics by using drone comb; removing the drones from Italian hives and introducing drone frames of Carniolans and Russians with less propensity to robbing and Caucasians as they are very gentle, this way we're trying to develop our own mutt this way. Interesting coincidence is that during a recent interview to Daniel Weaver, he mention that that is the way they developed their Beeweaver breed which is very popular for their Varroa hygenic behavior.
I do this and it works for me to kill mites.
An idea I got from another beek is to cut a plastic frame of foundation in half and let the bees draw out the outer sides with drone comb and worker in the middle half. This frame I mark and put in position 3 or 7 in the box. If the hive is going to swarm that 1/2 frame of Fdn is where they will put at least one or two swarm cells so if I'm checking for swarm cells that's the frame I check first. And like you said they tend to not mess up the other frames with drone brood and less burr comb between boxes. And I save money on fdn.
Great video Bob.
Everything you said makes sense based on my anecdotal experience. I got almost all of my bees from cut outs. Now that im making splits and all the frames have plastic foundation inside of their natural comb, I’ve noticed that that will build drone cells at the bottom of the plastic foundation. Typically on the 2nd frame from the outside. And they do have about 20% drone comb in the wild. I think 10% is fine in a managed environment but I’m not making that claim with any expertise behind it. Bees are more spread out in the wild. A yard with a frame of drone in each should be able to mate a lot of queens.
Bob, instead of buy drone foundations I just put one or two medium frames in the brood box and they draw out drone comb attached to the bottom of the medium frames.
I've been considering adding one of those to a colony. Ti increase the odds of getting queens mated. Llost a few colonies to starvation and need to build back up.
Great insights Bob. Thanks always!
Hi Bob, I like the idea of having frames raised with worker cells. I put the empty wooden frame at the edge of the colony and the bees build it from scratch with drone cells.
Man I’ve got questions but this explains a lot. Great video.
nice info .
Hey Bob! Enjoyed your thoughts on drone frames. Dedicated drone frames sure has cleaned up the wonky drone cells and has helped tremendously with much better drone saturation. Thanks for sharing!
All good info Bob I will take you theories any time. I have seen your operation thrive not fail so you know a thing or two about a thing of two!
I wanted to say thank you for your videos and the service you provide to new and established bee keepers. You are succinct, well researched, share your experience over the million or so hives you managed over your lifetime, and are open to learn new things (that is pretty rare). If I only have time for one bee keeping video before I do splits or something else that could be tricky, your videos get first billing!
Hi Bob, you always seem to bring out what might be a simple idea or solution that hasn’t been presented in the way you do it. This issue has been a problem for me with messy combs, burr comb in between frames. I also do queen rearing so I want the drones also. I almost thought of cutting an inch off the bottoms the plastic foundations in a colony this year to let them draw drones cells there instead of in between the frames. I am glad I did not do that way because how you do it is way better and makes a lot more sense. Thank you so much for sharing.
Completely agreed re the need for drones. I give them foundationless frames, which achieves something similar. One nice side effect, as you say, is that I don't get any burr comb jammed between boxes, or above frames.
Really enjoyed this video I just removed a frame that had 80% drones and didn’t understand why they had patches of drones until I examined the old comb that I had.
Thanks again for sharing your beekeeping knowledge Bob.