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Author Topic: Winter Casualty - What Now?  (Read 1493 times)

Offline antaro

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Winter Casualty - What Now?
« on: January 19, 2013, 03:40:56 pm »
I have had two hives for two years. So far this winter, one of them has died.
I took it apart today and there was plenty of honey (7 deeps at least). Not sure what killed them, but so it goes.

Now my question is: What to do with those frames? They have a nice slim layer of mold on them, so I have no interest in harvesting. I am concerned about the stores of my other hive, although I have not looked in there other than to pop the top to see if there are living bees (and there are).

Should I somehow put the 7 deeps of honey into my one remaining hive? Do nothing and hope that my other hive has enough?

Any advice?

Offline Kathyp

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Re: Winter Casualty - What Now?
« Reply #1 on: January 19, 2013, 04:40:22 pm »
don't do anything in this cold we are having.

7 deeps or 7 deep size frames?????

what is the configuration of the other hive?
Someone really ought to tell them that the world of Ayn Rand?s novel was not meant to be aspirational.

Offline antaro

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Re: Winter Casualty - What Now?
« Reply #2 on: January 19, 2013, 06:28:06 pm »
7 deep frames.
The other hive is two deep boxes. I cracked it and looked inside today, saw that there were bees at the top. I know nothing else about how they are doing.

Offline AllenF

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Re: Winter Casualty - What Now?
« Reply #3 on: January 19, 2013, 09:45:19 pm »
Let your good hive rob out that honey from the dead hive.  Then you can use the existing comb for a new hive in the spring or catching a swarm. 

Offline AllenF

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Re: Winter Casualty - What Now?
« Reply #4 on: January 19, 2013, 09:46:02 pm »
Oh ya, bees will clean up the frames for you.