New Bees in an Old Hive

Started by credenza, April 19, 2015, 01:29:00 AM

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credenza

Greetings!
It's been so long since I posted here that I guess my old username disappeared into the wind.

Quick question: I have two now-empty hives that were actively used for the past few years. Bees did great until the absconded this last fall.
Now I am putting to new packages of bees into the hives this week but am curious as to the best way to set up the hives.

One deep is filled with honey (slight mold over the top) and the other deep has fully drawn frames that are a combination of empty, moldy pollen, and nectar.
I have multiple drawn out, but empty, supers.

How would you put a new package into these hives?
Honey deep on the bottom? Scrape out the pollen/nectar frames?

I want a setup that will provide the best chance for these gals. Will pollen/nectar filled frames be more detrimental then empty frames? Will deeps filled with honey make it so there isn't proper space for brood?

Many thanks in advance!

don2

The old boxes will be fine if they are clean. I "would not" put old molded honey/pollen in. either clean the frames up or use new frames. If the frames have plastic foundation clean them up as good as possible. new wax foundation would be better. hope this helps. d2

iddee

I would use 1 deep to start each package. The honey and pollen will give them a great boost in getting started. They will clean the honey and pollen and use it. If the frames are partially full, they will have room to lay. if totally full, add a couple of frames of drawn comb, then add the other full ones when you add the second box.

The bees deal with mold on a regular basis. Don't worry about it. Use the frames as if they were perfectly clean, since they will be in a matter of days.

"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me . . . Anything can happen, child. Anything can be"

*Shel Silverstein*

Anybrew2

I agree with iddee

Cheers
Steve

OldMech

Yep, the bees will clean everything up.. what they wont use they will toss out.   I have placed frames from a deadout in a hive before, bees still stuck head first in the cells with a light layer of mold...     a week later they were all gone and the cells polished nicely.   Bees are quite good at fixing up old comb. It is their preferred nest site.. where another hive has died out.
39 Hives and growing.  Havent found the end of the comfort zone yet.