Earlier this year I tried pierco black foundation for brood boxes after a local large commercial beek indicated that that is all he uses and he gave some of the reasons. I have been reasonable pleased with the black pierco for brood for the increases I made this year.
My only complaint is that they don't always draw out the bottom corners although I bet they will when there is a flow on. Most of what I added was after the flow this year and we did not have a very good spring year.
I am about to purchase supers and need the frames and foundation to go with it. I am considering the pierco foundation for the medium frames as well.
My questions are in reference to the foundation with wood frames. I won't use the all plastic frames for other reasons.
Two Questions:
1. Is there any concensus on the color for honey supers? Black or white.
2. If you have used pierco foundation for honey supers, what has been your experience.
I use black for my brood boxes. It makes it easier to see eggs. I tried white for my supers, but the bees are VERY SLOW to draw them out. I use wired wax foundation for my supers now. The fastest way to get them to draw out the Piercos is to feed, feed, feed!
There is no consensus. Many have a strong preference for one or the other. In my experience the bees have no preference.
I think the black is only to help you see the eggs/larvae. I don't have any. I would think that in the supers white would be nicer if only because it looks nicer when full of honey.
As for pierco, bees draw out plastic best during a flow. They work fine in a super, but if the flow is slow they won't draw it out quite so well. Plastic is my preference.
Rick
The best luck I have had getting foundations drawn all the way down to the bottom bar is by placing them in a super just above the brood area. As others have said, you need strong populations of young adult bees, a good nectar flow or heavy feeding.
Quote from: mgmoore7 on October 12, 2009, 09:39:38 AM
Earlier this year I tried pierco black foundation for brood boxes after a local large commercial beek indicated that that is all he uses and he gave some of the reasons. I have been reasonable pleased with the black pierco for brood for the increases I made this year.
My only complaint is that they don't always draw out the bottom corners although I bet they will when there is a flow on. Most of what I added was after the flow this year and we did not have a very good spring year.
I am about to purchase supers and need the frames and foundation to go with it. I am considering the pierco foundation for the medium frames as well.
My questions are in reference to the foundation with wood frames. I won't use the all plastic frames for other reasons.
Two Questions:
1. Is there any concensus on the color for honey supers? Black or white.
2. If you have used pierco foundation for honey supers, what has been your experience.
We use plastic frames but the bees get trapted in the top corners when you replace them from an inspection. We notch the spaces out with a knife so they can get out. We are thinking about going to wood and let them draw their natural size cells on foundations.
About the color of boxes,white reflect heat better,black absorbs heat.I believe the hive will stay cooler with white.