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Replacing Old Brood Comb

The document discusses different methods for replacing old brood comb in bee hives. It describes preparing drawn comb in advance, replacing odd frames with foundation, and performing a 'Bailey Comb Change' where new foundation and the queen are placed above the old comb which is then removed after three weeks.

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47 views

Replacing Old Brood Comb

The document discusses different methods for replacing old brood comb in bee hives. It describes preparing drawn comb in advance, replacing odd frames with foundation, and performing a 'Bailey Comb Change' where new foundation and the queen are placed above the old comb which is then removed after three weeks.

Uploaded by

shane
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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National Bee Unit

Replacing Old Brood Comb


Why should I change old brood combs?
Combs should be changed regularly as they become damaged, contain extensive
amounts or inconveniently placed drone comb, but mostly because used comb may
contain the causative organism of many bee diseases, such as EFB, AFB, Nosema,
etc.

How often should I change them?


There are many opinions as to this question but no brood comb should be used for
more than three years. Used comb should be rendered or disposed of rather than
being used in a different colony. For the small cost involved it is not worth the risk.

Is it easy?
Yes, providing you approach the change with a plan.

Are there different plans for single or double brood management?


These should be approached in different ways to gain the best results. The next Q. &
A’s will help you decide how to do it.

Can I just replace the odd brood comb with foundation?


This is the most common system used by beekeepers and probably creates the most
problems especially in single brood chamber management systems with the smaller
types of hive. Foundation placed in a bottom brood chamber is invariably spoilt
unless a powerful swarm with a good honey flow is drawing it out. Foundation put
into a bottom brood chamber is drawn out from the top downwards, as a result it
becomes travel stained and covered in propolis. The bees then nibble the foundation
away leaving holes between the comb and the bottom bars of the frame. In double
brood chamber systems the foundation can be put into the upper chamber so this
problem does not occur.

National Bee Unit


APHA, National Agri-Food Innovation Campus
Sand Hutton, York. YO41 1LZ
Telephone 03003030094 email [email protected] NBU Web site: www.nationalbeeunit.com
October 2014
©Crown copyright. This sheet, excluding the logo, may be reproduced free of charge providing that it
is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading way. The material must be acknowledged
What are the best systems?
There are two easy and effective systems, these are:
A. To replace old comb with prepared drawn comb and
B. To perform a ‘Bailey Comb Change’.

How do I prepare drawn comb?


This is only practical for the smaller types of brood chamber. A clean brood chamber
is filled with frames of foundation and placed over a queen excluder during a honey
flow. I.e. used as a super. When the combs have been drawn and filled with honey
they can be carefully extracted and stored for use as replacement combs.

How do I use these combs?


Towards the end of the bee keeping season frames that you wish to replace are
moved to the ends of the brood chamber. During winter these frames become free of
brood so in early spring, before the colony is expanding rapidly, they can be
removed and replaced with drawn combs. Use of foundation at this time is not
possible, as without a honey flow or extensive feeding the bees will not draw it out.
This exchange can take place on a warm day in March. Ensure that sufficient stores
remain, if not feed the bees.

How do I perform a Bailey comb change?


Prepare a clean brood chamber filled with frames of foundation. Place this chamber
over the existing brood chamber. Unless there is a strong nectar flow feed with
winter strength sugar syrup i.e. 1 Kg of sugar to 650ml of water. When the bees have
drawn out some of the foundation, find the queen and place her on this comb. Put a
queen excluder over the old brood chamber and under the new, thus trapping the
queen in the upper chamber. If possible arrange a new hive entrance between the
two brood boxes and close off the old. This helps to reduce the amount of pollen
stored in the old lower combs. After three weeks, remove the old brood chamber.
The brood will have hatched and the comb can then be rendered to recover the
beeswax. This system is ideal for replacing all the combs at once and is best
performed in early spring often, with clement weather, March is suitable, but
remember to keep feeding so the bees can build comb.

National Bee Unit


APHA, National Agri-Food Innovation Campus
Sand Hutton, York. YO41 1LZ
Telephone 03003030094 email [email protected] NBU Web site: www.nationalbeeunit.com
October 2014
©Crown copyright. This sheet, excluding the logo, may be reproduced free of charge providing that it
is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading way. The material must be acknowledged
Diagram of Bailey Comb Change

Super

Super when
foundation is
Bucket
Bucket fully drawn -------------
feeder
feeder
Part drawn New comb,
Brood box of
foundation queen and Colony on
foundation
and queen brood fresh comb

---------------- ----------------
Old comb, Old comb
queen and empty of
brood. Brood. brood.

Floor Floor Floor Clean Floor

Queen confined Old comb removed and


to new brood then rendered or
box destroyed

Start About one week 21 to 24 days later

Where do bees find it easiest to draw comb?


The high temperatures needed for bees to secrete wax are governed by many
factors such as colony strength, weather etc. The area above the brood nest tends to
be the best place.

What if my foundation is old?


Old foundation tends to become hard and brittle so bees tend to chew it into holes. It
can be restored by carefully warming it, which releases the oils and makes it usable
again.

Is there anything else I should be aware of?


Make sure that you only use ‘narrow’ spacing between the frames. Combs at the end
of the box tend not to be drawn on the outer face. This is because the bees find it
hard to cluster there and generate wax. Turn the frame around or move it further into
the box so that they can draw it out.

National Bee Unit


APHA, National Agri-Food Innovation Campus
Sand Hutton, York. YO41 1LZ
Telephone 03003030094 email [email protected] NBU Web site: www.nationalbeeunit.com
October 2014
©Crown copyright. This sheet, excluding the logo, may be reproduced free of charge providing that it
is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading way. The material must be acknowledged

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