Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: tjc1 on February 20, 2015, 10:37:16 PM

Title: Uncapped honey/nectar in a deadout - safe to feed?
Post by: tjc1 on February 20, 2015, 10:37:16 PM
One of my deadout hives has quite a few frames of uncapped stores. Should this be cleaned out of the comb or can I keep it until spring to feed to new bees? I am wondering about the possibility of fermentation.
Title: Re: Uncapped honey/nectar in a deadout - safe to feed?
Post by: OldMech on February 20, 2015, 11:00:41 PM
What caused the deadout? 
   If it was simple starvation, I would not hesitate to feed it to other bees, but if it was for any other reason, Nosema for example, your just asking for trouble..
   As cold as it is there, you should not have to worry about fermentation.
Title: Re: Uncapped honey/nectar in a deadout - safe to feed?
Post by: Michael Bush on February 21, 2015, 12:47:50 PM
I would give it to another hive.  Sooner is better than later as they will start robbing it when it warms up.
Title: Re: Uncapped honey/nectar in a deadout - safe to feed?
Post by: tjc1 on February 21, 2015, 09:23:19 PM
Since I lost all my hives, I won't be able to use these frames until I get new packages in April - too late to hold onto it? I have the hives closed up and inside (unheated) right now. I sent samples to the USDA lab to check for anything bad.
Title: Re: Uncapped honey/nectar in a deadout - safe to feed?
Post by: Michael Bush on February 21, 2015, 10:29:06 PM
You can freeze them.  Bees usually don't die over winter from AFB, but you can always examine the brood comb for scale.
Title: Re: Uncapped honey/nectar in a deadout - safe to feed?
Post by: jayj200 on February 23, 2015, 01:49:21 PM
what mike said
Title: Re: Uncapped honey/nectar in a deadout - safe to feed?
Post by: tjc1 on February 23, 2015, 08:54:34 PM
Thanks guys - but do I take that to mean that if I can't freeze them, they won't keep (I'm talking about the uncapped frames - I assume capped honey will be fine)? It will remain generally cool here in Mass. through mid-April when the new bees should arrive... but without freezing, should I clean them out?
Title: Re: Uncapped honey/nectar in a deadout - safe to feed?
Post by: Michael Bush on February 24, 2015, 08:45:33 AM
Uncapped, even if it's dry enough now, will absorb moisture until it ferments.  Also if it's not frozen or guarded by bees it will eventually get found by ants and wax moths etc.  So I would freeze it if you can.  If not put it on a strong hive, and they will guard it.
Title: Re: Uncapped honey/nectar in a deadout - safe to feed?
Post by: tjc1 on February 24, 2015, 08:44:12 PM
Thanks, Michael - that's kind of what I figured. I lost all my hives so I have no bees to guard it. I guess I'll wash out the uncapped frames when it gets warm enough, and tightly bag up the capped stores in heavy-duty compactor bags until April.