Define follower board more clearly

[Cindi]

Right, every time I read the part in the Bush Farm site I read about the follower board and say I am going to find out more about it cause:  I don't get it.  Written descriptions are sometimes very difficult for me to understand, I am a visual learner.  The follower board replaces one frame on each end of the brood nest.  It gives the bees place to cluster.  BUT, what I don't get is, isn't it desirable to have as much room in the brood nest as possible.  I get the impression that the follower board would decrease the (in a Langstroth) room in the box to 8 frames.  Counterproductive?

I think that I just don't understand how it is constructed.  It sounded like it is a solid frame.  Could you please more clearly define "follower board".  Best of a greater day.  Cindi

[tig]

here we call it a division board.  yes it does take the place of one frame but if your hive has only 4 or 5 frames i'd put the board to help keep the warmth of the hive intact right beside the outermost frame.  a great thing to have in cold weather.

[Michael Bush]

The terms get mixed up in actual usage.  In the original intent of the terms, a division board is used to divide a box into two nucs.  A follower is used to create more cluster space.  But a "division board" feeder does not divide the box, so the meaning gets confused.

The THEORY is that the follower board will make some cluster space in the brood nest and that will help with swarming.  I'd rather have more frames for brood.

The other advantage to a follower board is that you have an easy to remove board that gives you room to manipulate the brood nest without rolling the bees.

I have a few around here and mostly I use them when one fat comb makes it hard to get as many frames as I want in the box but there's a half frame of left over space.

[likes2grill]

Here in north Florida would I need to use this in my TBH? I didn't think I needed it because its so warm most of the year here.

[Michael Bush]

>Here in north Florida would I need to use this in my TBH?

You can get by without one.  You might find them useful if the weather is cold and the cluster is small.