Author Topic: Dead hive, now what? (Read 2067 times)

HilltopDaisy · « **on:** January 13, 2006, 01:11:47 pm »

Unbelievably warm weather here in NY. I looked in my hives today and one is definitely dead. Should I pull the deep super full of honey and extract it now? The second hive showed almost no life, maybe a few live bees. This was my first year.

Robo · « **Reply #1 on:** January 13, 2006, 01:27:10 pm »

Options are many. Does your other hive have enough stores? Do you plan on replacing the dead hive come Spring? If so, the honey would give them a boost. Being it is your first year, I imagine you are having trouble determining what killed them. The fact that they had plenty of stores and that we have not had any extended cold periods in NY that would prevent them from moving to new stores, it is doubtful they starved due to weather. Did you treat for tracheal mites or buy stock that was tracheal mite resistant?

If you plan to continue with beekeeping next year, the best advice I can give you is to NOT just write them off as "winter kill" or you will end up in the same position next year. Do you have a mentor in your area that could take a look?

I know I have raised more questions than I have answered, but at this point, what to do with the honey is the least of your worries if you plan to continue as a beekeeper.

HilltopDaisy · « **Reply #2 on:** January 13, 2006, 01:42:10 pm »

Yes, I plan on continuing this year. Yes, there is plenty of honey in hive #2. I treated with a menthol patty in both hives. I did not make the patty myself, they were given to me by a coworker who keeps bees (actually, he lost 5 out of 7 hives last year, so maybe his "treatment" is/was faulty?).

So, I can simply leave the deep super in place and plan on using it with the new bees this spring. If it was tracheal mites, what do I do with the contents of the brood chamber, exactly?

Robo · « **Reply #3 on:** January 13, 2006, 01:49:21 pm »

Make sure you isolate the honey super so the other hive doesn't start robbing it.

As far as cleaning the dead hive, just pull the frames and brush of the dead bees. Don't worry about those down in the cells, the new bees will clean them out. Just get what you can, and close it up. If you wait til Spring, chances are the moisture in the hive will have caused things to start molding. It is not catastrophic, just makes for more work for you and the new bees.

TREBOR · « **Reply #4 on:** January 13, 2006, 11:50:22 pm »

just a thought,
try to find out what is in his patties
and when they were made.
I think I remember reading that
a certain med might cause foolbrood
when used in patty form.
but dont quote me,
I dont always remember right! :lol: