Propolis issue

[Terry N]

Hello, 1 year as keeper with 1 hive, went to check bees and open hive, for one thing I cannot separate the two boxes and the insides of the hive frames highly glued with propolis ,so how can I pry or loosen the frames and hive boxes without upsetting the bees? I am new and trying to learn. Thanks

[Michael Bush]

One word.  Hive tool. ;)

[BjornBee]

As you start to raise the box, many times the frames come up also making lifting the box off almost impossible. So you need to pry down each frame. Just be prepared to smoke a bit and do not let go of the top box, as what normally happens is a few bees get crushed (Hopefully not the queen) and it's when this happens that they get ticked.

[Vance G]

I hope you did a good job of nailing your frames.  Be carefull to loosen each frame from the lower box from the bottom of the frame in the upper box with your hive tool or the frames themselves can pull apart.  It that happens, stay calm and just fix it.   It is al part of the learning process.  When you get them apart, smoke the bees out of the comb that bridged between the two boxes and scrape it off.  Do you inspection and put things back together.  It is all part of the fun!  I am looking formward to my nucs recieved a week ago getting that established!  You are a lucky man, you could have the foot of melting snow on the ground we have here.