Small Cell Question

[bassman1977]

When preparing to hive a package hive or a feral hive, can they go directly to small cell or should they be regressed?  It would seem to me that the packaged hives should be regressed and the ferals could go directly to small cell.  Any thoughts?

[Jerrymac]

Go directly to SC. Do not pass go.

It is much faster if you have fully drawn Small cell combs for the bees to regress. If you just have small cell foundation, they might start out drawing it correctly, but then they will mess it up.

Foundationless and they will have to start new three or four times before they reach 4.9.

[bassman1977]

If you just have small cell foundation, they might start out drawing it correctly, but then they will mess it up.

How will they mess it up?  Start drawing large cell?

[Michael Bush]

Large cell bees start out drawing about 5.1mm cells (average).  After they have raised bees on that THOSE bees will draw about 4.9mm cells (average).  Once you are at this point they will draw 4.9mm foundation quite happily at about 4.9mm.  After they have rasied bees on that, if you don't give them foundation, they will draw about 4.8mm cells (average).

The sooner you give them the freedom to build small cells or you give them small cell foundation, the more quickly you'll get to natural sized bees on natural sized cells.  If you want to regress your bees I would never install them on large cell foundation nor would I put any large cell foundation in the brood nest.