The Bailey comb change is a beekeeping technique developed by Dr. Lesley Bailey in the 1950s to replace old or diseased comb with new foundation. This helps improve hive hygiene and reduces virus loads, which are especially high in many colonies today due to varroa mites. The process, conducted in early spring, involves moving the queen and brood to new frames and ultimately discarding the old frames and comb. Here’s a complete guide to the Bailey comb change, with tips for optimising cleanliness and managing virus load.
Why Perform a Bailey Comb Change?
Over time, hive combs can accumulate pathogens, including viruses. Regular comb replacement through a Bailey comb change is a hygienic measure that can significantly reduce disease risk. Unlike shook swarming, the Bailey comb change is more gradual, minimising colony stress.
When to Start a Bailey Comb Change
Begin this process in early spring when the brood nest is ready to expand. The entire process usually takes around five to six weeks, allowing the bees time to draw new comb on foundation strips and gradually transition away from the old frames.
What is a Bailey Board?
A Bailey board, also known as a Bailey eke, is a shallow rim or spacer used during the Bailey comb change process. It’s placed between the original brood box (with the old frames) and the new brood box (with the fresh frames) at the beginning of the manipulation. The Bailey board serves several purposes:
- Entrance Control: It can create an entrance above the old brood box, which helps the bees orient themselves to the new area and encourages the queen to move up into the fresh comb.
- Space for Feeders or Insulation: The extra space from the Bailey board can accommodate frame feeders or insulation, which may be beneficial in early spring when temperatures fluctuate.
- Separation for Cleanliness: It acts as a divider, helping to keep the old, potentially virus-laden brood box separated from the new, cleaner frames and foundation above.
Step-by-Step Bailey Comb Change Instructions
Step 1: Set Up the New Brood Box
- Prepare the Upper Box: Place a fresh brood box on top of the original brood box with one frame containing a triangular starter foundation in the centre.
- Add Frames and Feed: Fill the upper box with frames fitted with starter strips, ensuring the same number of frames as occupied frames in the box below. Add division boards or frame feeders with thick syrup for feed.
- Swap Hive Parts if Possible: Use a fresh, clean crownboard and consider swapping any old hive parts with sanitised replacements.
Step 2: Encourage the Queen to Move Up
- After One Week: Check that the queen has moved up to the upper box to start laying on the new frames.
- Add a Queen Excluder: Place a queen excluder between the two boxes, ensuring the queen is in the upper box.
- Monitor Feed and Comb Drawing: If the bees are drawing comb actively, add more frames with starter strips to the upper box, especially along the outer edges of the nest.
Step 3: Final Transition to the New Box
- After Three Weeks: By now, all brood in the bottom box should have emerged. Remove the bottom box and discard old frames, ideally by burning, to eliminate any virus load.
- Clean the Hive: Replace the hive floor, and place the new brood box on this fresh floor. Transfer any remaining bees onto the new frames in the upper box to ensure all bees are moved.
Special Considerations for High Virus Load
If your colony has a high virus load, extra sanitation steps are recommended:
- Frequent Hive Part Replacement: Replace the hive floor both at the beginning and the end of the Bailey change process.
- Torch Sanitisation: Clean hive parts with a gas torch to kill any lingering pathogens before reuse.
- Gentle Handling: Minimise stress when handling bees, as this can reduce the risk of virus spread through defecation or stress-related behaviours.
Additional Tips for Nosema-Affected Colonies
In colonies suffering from nosema, perform the Bailey comb change carefully:
- Feed with Thick Syrup: Nosema-affected colonies benefit from higher-concentration syrup (2:1) to support recovery and encourage comb building.
- Remove and Disinfect Frames: Handle frames delicately, avoiding brushing if possible, as this reduces stress and potential contamination.
- Final Clean-Up: At the end of the manipulation, ensure that all brood has moved to the new box, and remove any contaminated materials completely.
Benefits of the Bailey Comb Change
The Bailey comb change is an effective method to maintain hive cleanliness and colony health. Not only does it replace old, disease-prone comb, but it also allows colonies to renew comb with minimal influence from pre-printed cell sizes on commercial foundations. This method is particularly beneficial if you are transitioning to a different brood box size, as it offers flexibility to shift between box types (e.g., National to Commercial).
For further details on hive hygiene methods and best practices, check out resources on BeeBase.