Repeated Beekeeping Myths and Folklore.
PostPosted:30 Mar 2019, 14:54
In a previous thread I alluded to many authors repeating ad-lib the same old mistakes and myths that their predecessors were guilty of. It is almost as thought the new guard will not challenge old "beliefs" or they are unaware that such sayings/mantra's are just plain wrong.
I'm sure we all know many....but I suggest we limit ourselves to one per post.
I shall kick off.
Most books recommend frequently changing brood frames as they harbour disease. Reincarnated recently as an almost obsession with Bailey comb changes at the wrong time of year (now).
This is IMHO rubbish.
What diseases are they harbouring?......
Where are the published examples of disease being transferred from old combs?
What detriment is there to bees using old comb?
Answer is there aren't any, or what there is is simply hearsay...it's just an obsession passed on by some author who had an obsession with only having clean combs. And still passed on today by many authors and many journal articles.
I practice what I preach and do not routinely change my combs. I do not have any noticeable disease and (as a few can attest) my honey yields are substantial and my bees are thriving..
I start to replace old black comb when it gets to this stage and the bees have chewed most of it away...then it's time to retire it. The comb below has/had been in continuous use for over 10 years...
I'm sure we all know many....but I suggest we limit ourselves to one per post.
I shall kick off.
Most books recommend frequently changing brood frames as they harbour disease. Reincarnated recently as an almost obsession with Bailey comb changes at the wrong time of year (now).
This is IMHO rubbish.
What diseases are they harbouring?......
Where are the published examples of disease being transferred from old combs?
What detriment is there to bees using old comb?
Answer is there aren't any, or what there is is simply hearsay...it's just an obsession passed on by some author who had an obsession with only having clean combs. And still passed on today by many authors and many journal articles.
I practice what I preach and do not routinely change my combs. I do not have any noticeable disease and (as a few can attest) my honey yields are substantial and my bees are thriving..
I start to replace old black comb when it gets to this stage and the bees have chewed most of it away...then it's time to retire it. The comb below has/had been in continuous use for over 10 years...