Just ran across this article which goes against the grain of some schools of thought. It explains the apparent downfall and stress placed on honeybees when using new foundation-starter strips and perhaps naturally drawn comb. .
That is what I needed and many others too: FACTS!
We have known tens of years that
* to produce 1 kg wax bees need 8 kg honey + plenty of pollen.
* The work is done by over 2 weeks old bees which chould forage nectar.
* One Langstroth hive need 1 kg foundations.
* 10 foundations needs another 1 kg wax so they draw combs.
---> Lagstroth box without foundations need 16 kg honey.
---> 3 box need 48 kg honey = you need not extract anything =normal surplus yield.But bees do not make combs like that. They make them only when nectar come and they fill cells and build comb walls more. It seem that there is now difference because but they draw combs only when honey comes plenty.
I must transalate article to Finnish. It makes real sence. We have schools who says that there is no difference if they draw combs or not.
Most of people do not know how animals need energy to proses things.
Question is, how many units you get protein from domestic animal when you feed it with fodder protein.
Pig, salmon and chicken are most efficient. They turn from their food protein to body protein not moren than 50-60% to their own bodyweight.
I have seen an article that when bees proces at autumn their syrup to winter storage they consume 30% and 70% of energy will be in storage. I do not know is it fact but it makes sence.
I have estimated during years that if hive loses 20% from its brood because of chalkbrood it is not able to gather surplus honey storage .