Small Cell Foundation Beekeeping

Known as the most traditional option for your bees our beekeeping wax foundation provides an easy way to.

Small cell foundation beekeeping.

On an even larger scale johannsmeir 2001 notes that when varroa reached south africa in 1997 all managed and feral colonies already contained small cell combs since that is the size that african bees build. Plastic foundation is the thing for you. Wire hooks on the top of the foundation help keep the foundation in place behind the wedge in the frame. Crimp wired foundation is the most popular type of wax foundation on the market.

Today i ll discuss my experience using small cell foundation possibly one of the most divisive and controversial topics in beekeeping with the exception of treat vs no treat. Of course if you are reading this blog you know i do not treat with the exception of fall feeding and then only if needed. The fifth assumption is that small cell beekeepers don t believe there is also a genetic component to the survival of bees with varroa. Large bees bees from 5 4 mm foundation build an in between sized comb usually around 5 1 mm.

Many top bar beekeepers seek out these particular bees for their hives. Beekeeping foundation wax becomes brittle during freezing weather and may be held for unfavorable weather conditions. Small cell foundation and regression. So these recently swarmed domestic bees are not fully regressed and often die in the first year or two.

5 5 8 x 16 3 4 14 29 cm x 42. We cannot ship the wax foundation below 32 degrees. Michael bush on small cell bees and foundation. Rite cell foundation wax foundation perma dent foundation.

So when you shop for bees ask if they are small cell bees. Plastic foundationlove wooden frames but hating wiring foundation. We offer beekeeping wax foundation in wired unwired small cell and cut comb. Perhaps i ve convinced you that small cell is the way to go.

A 2013 article from the new hampsha bees blog small cell doesn t work but please don t tell my bees describing typical evidence that small cell foundation does work anecdotal and not controlled but nevertheless enthusiastic and unusually acknowledging the evidence against. Fn 230 5 5 8 x 16 3 4 14 29 cm x 42 55 cm small cell wired with hooks 10 sheets 17 50. Most of the organic bee produces are using small cell foundation for their colonies or they simply let the bees draw their own comb without even giving them foundation. Crimped wires run vertically through the foundation for added strength and support.

It is available at many beekeeping supply companies. However she used beeswax small cell foundation as opposed to the plastic full depth combs in this experiment.