Well, Crown Bees & others stand to make a lot of money if you have to buy their products, follow their tips. I guess it helps with survival rates of bees, but I don't have the time to extract cocoons, wash them in sand, store in my refrigerator (yuck), etc. I keep them outside and let them live the natural life, and about 80% survive through next Spring. My work is in April only, when I release the shelves in the house, and clean the unassembled shelves. I always get more bees coming back than I have spaces for them. Nature has a good way for survival.
Well, Crown Bees & others stand to make a lot of money if you have to buy their products, follow their tips. I guess it helps with survival rates of bees, but I don't have the time to extract cocoons, wash them in sand, store in my refrigerator (yuck), etc. I keep them outside and let them live the natural life, and about 80% survive through next Spring. My work is in April only, when I release the shelves in the house, and clean the unassembled shelves. I always get more bees coming back than I have spaces for them. Nature has a good way for survival.