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highered: Making small colonies big (1. Mai 2009 13:53)

I recently worked out the answer to this question. You see intially I would feed protein about once a month and wouldn't get alot of brood, and didn't feed anymore frequently as the colonies were too small. Recently I've started feeding protein every single week even if its not eaten. By doing this you are letting the colony know that they will always have plenty of protein availble so theoritically you should get more brood and a faster growing colony then doing it the other way round of waiting for the colony to get bigger before feeding protein more often. Hope this helps.

JimmyVe: Re: Making small colonies big (4. Mai 2009 12:07)

It dont depend only on the way you feed, there are many things. First of all it depends from which species you have. The temperature the humidity and off course the feeding.

Like you said is in deed part true, if you give them enough food they will grow faster than when you dont feed them at all. ;)

highered: Re: Making small colonies big (6. Mai 2009 10:12)

Sorry, I didn't express myself correctly. I meant, if all other criteria are ok eg right temperature. then feeding protein very reguarly whether they eat it or not should make the colony grow faster.

donbilbo: Re: Making small colonies big (6. Mai 2009 11:47)

i have a small colony of M essor hesperius. got them with 20 workers, now they have 60. i feed them one cricket a day! if they do not eat a whole cricket i would give them some fruit-flies every day. not once a week or month. with this method they have the whole ground covered with brood. ;)

highered: Re: Making small colonies big (7. Mai 2009 10:27)

Wow, that sounds even better then once a week I will have to try this method.