Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: antaro on January 19, 2013, 03:40:56 pm

Title: Winter Casualty - What Now?
Post by: antaro 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?
Title: Re: Winter Casualty - What Now?
Post by: Kathyp 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?
Title: Re: Winter Casualty - What Now?
Post by: antaro 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.
Title: Re: Winter Casualty - What Now?
Post by: AllenF 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. 
Title: Re: Winter Casualty - What Now?
Post by: AllenF on January 19, 2013, 09:46:02 pm
Oh ya, bees will clean up the frames for you.