Can you reuse frames from a dead hive?

In most cases, reusing comb from dead colonies is okay. If I am confident that what killed the hive is not the result of something contagious, like American Foulbrood

American Foulbrood

American foulbrood (AFB, Histolysis infectiosa perniciosa larvae apium, Pestis americana larvae apium), caused by the spore-forming bacterium Paenibacillus larvae (reclassified as one species without subspecies diefferentiation in 2006 from Paenibacillus larvae ssp.

https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › American_foulbrood

American foulbrood - Wikipedia

, I save newer frames of comb for reuse. Reusing comb from colonies that died from mites, starvation, or cold is not an issue.

Can I use old frames for new bees?

It's okay to put some nasty old frames in a new hive, the bees will clean it and use it.

Can you harvest honey from a dead hive?

In most cases, you can harvest honey from a dead hive. If the honey seems clean and fresh (not fermented), and you have not treated for mites with chemical treatments. It should be safe to eat or keep frozen for later use by other bees.

Can I use an old hive for new bees?

First, the good news. Unless the colony died because of a nasty disease like American Foulbrood, you can definitely re-use the equipment. AFB would present as a horrible smelling hive with rotting, brown, slimy brood. You don't want to re-use equipment if the colony had AFB because it will pass on the new bees.

How do you prepare a dead hive for new bees?

It's not really necessary. Just scrape out debris using the hive tool and remove the yucky brood comb or any comb damaged by moths or beetles. If there's mold, scrape as much off as you can. The new bees you install in this equipment are capable of cleaning up the rest.

You can re-use your dead out frames!!

How do you clean an old hive frame?

Boil beehive frames in soda solution to remove wax and sterilize the frames. Hot water melts wax off bee frames. This method of removing wax from bee frames can also be used to wax plastic foundation. Plastic frames should be briefly immersed in hot water and then removed immediately.

What happens if you don't remove honey from hive?

The honey that is not harvested goes to feed the colony during the cold winter months. They leave what they do not use and build upon it the next season. Secondly, other bees and insects steal honey that is in the hives. Bees from other colonies will bring back honey from another hive to their own.

Why is beekeeping unethical?

Beekeeping is a controversial topic in the world of animal rights and conservation. Some people say that beekeeping is unethical because it is an exploitative relationship, just like keeping animals captive as pets is. Others argue that it is essential to ensure the future of our planet's food needs.

What do you do with frames after honey extraction?

The most common way is to put the frames back in the supers just harvested and put the supers back on your hives. Then in a few days, the bees will have cleaned up the mess and you're left with a super full of clean, dry, not sticky frames. Usually.

How often should you replace bee frames?

Keep you bees THRIVING and not just surviving with frame and foundation change outs every 5 years. Lastly, if your hive has experienced a complete die-off, due to chemicals, you have no choice but to replace all frames and foundation before installing a new colony of honey bees.

What do I do with old brood frames?

Rotating brood frames is considered good beekeeping practice for the health of the colony – it's recommended to cycle them out in a 2 to 5-year cycle. The start of spring is a great opportunity to swap out old brood frames with fresh ones, which can be easily done during a brood box inspection.

When should I replace my hive frames?

During winter these frames become free of brood so in early spring, before the colony is expanding rapidly, they can be removed and replaced with drawn combs. Use of foundation at this time is not possible, as without a honey flow or extensive feeding the bees will not draw it out.

Can you harvest honey with mold on the frames?

The bees are very thorough. After they are done, the combs can be used for brood or honey production. It's amazing, but no taste or smell of mold will remain on the combs. If you have more than one colony, you can divide the moldy frames between them, or you can give a few at a time.

Do bees reuse brood comb?

In nature, bees move the brood nest within the cavity, and generally will raise brood on newer comb, using old comb for food storage. When we restrict the broodnest, bees are forced to reuse the same comb over and over.

Why should we not eat honey?

Honey is meant as a health food; a health food for bees. The more we interfere with their natural processes, both by relying on farmed bees as pollinators (rather then other native wild bees, insects or animals) and to feed our desires for “sweets,” the closer we're coming to agricultural disaster.

Do bees get mad when you take their honey?

If you're new to keeping bees, you might wonder: do bees get mad when you take their honey? Harvesting honey does not anger or hurt the bees unless you are greedy and take too much. When done properly, bees are undisturbed when honey is harvested. Responsible beekeepers always leave enough honey for the hive.

Why do vegans avoid honey?

Vegans avoid eating honey to take a stand against bee exploitation and farming practices that are thought to harm bee health.

How often should I open my bee hive?

For beginning beekeepers, an inspection every seven to 10 days during spring and summer is a good target. Inspecting more than weekly will make your bees unhappy by disrupting hive activity and setting them back a day.

Will bees Colonise an empty hive?

Yes, an empty beehive will attract bees. Even if it isn't positioned up in a tree or converted to a bait hive, the scout bees can smell residual beeswax in the wood. If you have an empty hive and want to make it more attractive to bees, you can add a swarm lure.

How many times can I harvest honey in a year?

In a healthy, productive hive, it is normal to be able to harvest honey two to three times each season. Most beekeepers will harvest honey between June and September, but how often you harvest and how much honey you get will depend on a number of factors.

Can you reuse frames after wax moths?

The hive had to be weakened for some reason for the moths to get in there and do their damage. If it wasnt from a disease then the frames are ok. If it was from a disease you need to get it off of your frames before using them again.

Why are there dead bees outside my hive?

Lots of dead bees outside the hive can indicate a number of factors including starvation, pesticide poisoning, disease, moisture, etc. Lots of dead bees inside the hive can also indicate a number of things as well, winter kill, starvation, pesticide, disease.