diff --git a/forestry_bees/apiary.lua b/forestry_bees/apiary.lua
index db06313..4c0de88 100644
--- a/forestry_bees/apiary.lua
+++ b/forestry_bees/apiary.lua
@@ -105,7 +105,9 @@ local function apiary_node_timer(pos,elapsed)
     local can_breed, can_live
     local actionable
     
-    local breedtime = 5 --hardcoded for now
+    local breedtime = 1 --hardcoded for now
+    local lifetime = 10
+    local needed_time = 200 --just so that the formspecs doesnt make an error
     
     while elapsed > 0 and update do
         update = false
@@ -116,18 +118,26 @@ local function apiary_node_timer(pos,elapsed)
         is_drone = minetest.get_item_group(dronelist[1]:get_name(),"bee_drone") == 1
         
         can_breed = is_princess and is_drone
-        can_live = is_queen
+        can_live = is_queen       --these two event are disjoint (there are no queen & princess)
         actionable = can_breed or can_live
         
-		local el = elapsed
-		if actionable then -- adjust el to action duration
-			el = math.min(el, breedtime - src_time)
-		end
 		
+		--if can_breed then -- adjust el to action duration
+		--	el = math.min(el, breedtime - src_time)
+		--end
+    --if can_live then -- adjust el to action duration
+		--	el = math.min(el, lifetime - src_time)
+		--end
+    
+		local el = elapsed
 		--if actionable check if things are ready
 		if actionable then
+      --ternary expression if can_breed it evals to breedtime else lifetime
+      needed_time = (can_breed and {breedtime} or {lifetime})[1]
+      el = math.min(el, needed_time - src_time)
 			src_time = src_time + el
-			if src_time >= breedtime then
+      
+			if src_time >= needed_time then
 				--if possible act accordingly to breed or live
 				if can_breed then
 					local queen = forestry_bees.breed_princess_drone(monarchlist[1],dronelist[1])
@@ -141,7 +151,7 @@ local function apiary_node_timer(pos,elapsed)
 					end
 					inv:set_stack("monarch",1,queen)
 					inv:set_stack("drone",1,final_drone)
-					src_time = src_time - breedtime
+					src_time = src_time - needed_time
 				else --if actionable but not can_breed we have can_live
 					local queen = monarchlist[1]
 					local princess, dronelistout = forestry_bees.apiary_result(queen)
@@ -152,7 +162,7 @@ local function apiary_node_timer(pos,elapsed)
 							inv:add_item("dst",drone)
 						end
 						inv:set_stack("monarch",1,ItemStack())
-						src_time = src_time - breedtime
+						src_time = src_time - needed_time
 						update = true
 					else
 						dst_full = true
@@ -171,15 +181,15 @@ local function apiary_node_timer(pos,elapsed)
     --
     local formspec
     local item_state
-    local queen_percent = 0
+    local percent = 0
     --by default timer doesnt restart
     local result = false
     if actionable then
-      queen_percent = math.floor(src_time / breedtime * 100)
+      percent = math.floor(src_time / needed_time * 100)
       if dst_full then
         item_state = "100% (output full)"
       else
-        item_state = tostring(item_percent).."%"
+        item_state = tostring(percent).."%"
       end
       --make sure timer restarts
       result = true
@@ -191,7 +201,7 @@ local function apiary_node_timer(pos,elapsed)
       end
     end
     
-    formspec = forestry_bees.get_apiary_active_formspec(queen_percent)
+    formspec = forestry_bees.get_apiary_active_formspec(percent)
 
 	meta:set_float("src_time", src_time)
 	meta:set_string("formspec", formspec)