Foundation choice(s) and cell size?

[babsbag]

You are absolutely right, they draw comb no matter what I do or do not give them. Maybe the foundationless frames are just more work for me. I honestly never thought about NOT using foundation, and I just assumed the bees would work harder. Perhaps that was wrong on my part. I may have to try this, but I do like the drone frames; WHEN they use them that is.

How are you going to extract your honey?

 

[Latestarter]

Hey Babs, Well, that may be putting the honey before the comb so to speak... Don't know that I'll get any honey the first year... from all that I've heard it's more rare than common. If I DO happen to get honey, I will do comb cut outs for comb honey and slow extraction.

I won't be completely foundation-less... and as long as they connect the non foundation comb to the sides and bottom (as well as top of course), I should be able to do a slow extraction with no problem... Guess I'll find out when the time comes If you haven't checked out the link I provided, you really ought to go and just have a peak. I think you'll be amazed. They really are a beautiful sight to see (partial foundation frames). http://goo.gl/QL4oql

edited to correct grammar and verbage

 

[Alicia]

I did check out that thread and saved it to my bookmarks. They were very pretty.
Not sure what type of honey...comb or otherwise. Right now I'm just concerned with trying to learn as much as possible to keep them alive.

 

[babsbag]

@Alicia...Amen to keeping them alive.

I did comb honey one year and while I love it most of my customers did not, they want the stuff like they see in the grocery store. But the comb that my bees make on their own is very pretty, even though it is usually in a place that I don't need it to be.

As far as getting honey the first year, when I was young my father used to...than came CCD, right about the time I got my first hive, and the CA drought. Last year I had one hive give me honey and 2 hives of 4 just up and disappear. These hives didn't do a slow death, they just left...all of them. Weirdest thing ever. I starved a hive once, I won't make that mistake again; I felt horrible. I left them plenty of honey, just not in a place where they would use it. I didn't know that the honey had to right above or next to the brood nest.

I have seriously considered just keeping bees for pollination and not for honey harvest at all. I am looking for some New World Carniolans or some of the varroa hygienic bees hoping that they will fare better than the Italian.

I will definitely check out that link. Thanks

 

[babsbag]

OK, so I read the entire thread in the link you posted and it is very interesting to say the least, and beautiful. But does she still use honey supers? Nowhere does she mention them, or what kind of foundation she uses in them, if any. Personally I don't like extracting honey mixed with brood so there has to be supers on my hives and I am not doing all cut comb, that is just too time consuming. I don't use a queen excluder but have never had a queen lay above the 2nd deep; I like it that way.

I can see where the foundationless system could make a better brood nest and a more natural way for them to store honey for the winter, and the drone trapping too, but I just don't see if for someone trying to sell honey, even on a hobbiest level. Unless I am missing something.

I will check out her facebook page when it isn't 1:00 AM.