For brood breaks and healthy hive management. As varroa mites become resistant to miticides, and varroa re-invasion issues become more severe, beekeepers all over the world are desperately searching for alternative treatments. Brood breaks are extremely effective and low cost and is becoming a very popular option. The purpose-built cages are made from food-grade Polypropylene. Sliding door on both sides. The side openings in the grill are 4.2mm, same as a queen excluder. Outside dimensions:- 240mm x 29mm x 34mm high. Nurse bees can go in and out to care for the queen.To release the queen, slide open a door on the cage and she will come out as soon as the hive is closed back up.The cage is large enough to allow plenty of pheromone distribution, so the bees don’t try to supersede her. It is recommended to cut a window out of a brood frame and fit the cage into the window. See photos.The bees will secure it in place.The frame can live permanently in the hive. Position it as an outer frame in the brood box when it has no queen enclosed.When the queen is inside, keep it near the middle of the brood box so she keeps warm and fed. It is recommended to use a ¾ depth frame in a full depth brood box.The bees will build drone comb underneath it.If there are any mites in the hive, they will tend to go to these drone cells.When they are all capped, they can be easily scraped from the bottom of the frame and disposed of, mites and all. (Chooks go crazy on them!) Some beekeepers fit the cage between 2 frames in horizontal position instead of vertical.See photo with plastic frames. The comb is scraped back to the foundation.There is a question whether this way allows enough pheromone to be released but it seems to be okay. Example of a cage in a plastic frame
