OK. Here's is where I am at this afternoon after 14 hours of beeking. I had to cone the house this morning instead of a cutout which gave me time to make a new bottom and top for the gum hive. I now have the deep placed in front of the gum and have coned the hole. I tried to remove what I could from the gum. Every bit of comb was collasped, coated in honey and maggots(1000's and 1000's) too many in my opinion to be SHB and moth. Looks like some bot fly and other fly larvae. I bagged some but just left the rest and started smoking the hive. Allowed the hangers-on inside to exit then closed it back up. A friend brought me
a new queen on a frame cage with attendants. I also stole 2 frames of honey from my other hive and put all this in the box with some new frames. The bees were returning to the gum and going in the deep at 8pm. Who knows how many are left. No sign of the gum queen. The combs were crushed together so I don't see how she survived. There were 100's of dead bees in between the combs that I raked out.
How long should I let this queen stay in the cage?
Should I try to keep a very, small colony? Could I just feed them all fall and winter and see what this donated queen can do this spring?
On another note my 1st hive are drawing out the MannLake 105 plastic very well. I like that plastic. My first generation is due on Aug. 21.
Thank You for all the replies. It got me going and monday I will dispose of the gum and maggots.