Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Rurification on January 19, 2013, 06:47:25 pm

Title: Dead hive question - what to do now?
Post by: Rurification on January 19, 2013, 06:47:25 pm
My weak hive died this week.    [See earlier post 'Is this dysentery or nosema? http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,39862.0.html (http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,39862.0.html)  for previous discussion.]  Pic of poopy frame tops is below.


Since they obviously had something, is the honey safe to give to the other hive?   [What stores they had left look like pic below - old brood frame with some pollen and honey on top.]

What about the poopy frames?   How do I sanitize them for the next bunch?     No rush to decide.  It's in the 50s today, but supposed to be down to 6 degrees Sunday night.   Things can stay put for a while. 

(http://s1.postimage.org/691n3uz3v/tardis_2013_jan_12_frame.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/691n3uz3v/)


(http://s8.postimage.org/cx1f07if5/bees_with_dysentery_2013_jan.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/cx1f07if5/)
Title: Re: Dead hive question - what to do now?
Post by: bailey on January 19, 2013, 07:08:15 pm
If it were me I would scrap the frames and comb.  Scorch the inside of the box with a torch.  But that's just me. 
If it weren't for the poopy frames I would say reuse but I don't think I would risk new bees for $15 worth of frames. 
Bailey
Title: Re: Dead hive question - what to do now?
Post by: Rurification on January 20, 2013, 10:47:43 am
Can I save the frames that are clean from that hive?  or should I pitch them all.... [Horizontal hive - 22 frames]

And should I seal it up so the other bees can't rob it out?

I'm assuming we can eat the honey and use the comb for candles.
Title: Re: Dead hive question - what to do now?
Post by: AllenF on January 20, 2013, 04:48:01 pm
What killed out the bees?   I reuse my deadouts.  I let the bees rob out the honey from them, then put them up for springtime.  The only time I do not use comb from a deadout is if the SHB or moths ruined the frame.  Most all my deadouts are from low numbers of bees due to mites and the crud they carry. 
Title: Re: Dead hive question - what to do now?
Post by: Rurification on January 20, 2013, 06:46:04 pm
What killed out the bees? 

I'm not sure what killed them.  THey were a big busy hive in the fall.   No evidence of anything except the dysentery.    I pulled a bottom board and didn't find any mites - even with a magnifying glass.     

It was a new package in March.   All comb was new this year and drawn themselves. 
Title: Re: Dead hive question - what to do now?
Post by: sterling on January 20, 2013, 07:09:43 pm
I would store them somewhere so they wouldn't get damaged and get a package or two and use them with the new package. The comb and honey will give a couple packages a good start. But thats just me.