Mistakes were made, Need advice on what to do now

[jaime]

Freinds,

We are low-tek, low intensity beekeepers.

We like having them just to pollinate the garden.  We think each bee is cute.

I had to give up my colonies 25 yrs ago due to galloping reaction to stings, so I am my wife's coach.  I operate the smoker and offer support.

We do mite meds twice a yr. and that's about it.

Two springs ago we had a very weak colony and a strong one.  We tried to "help" the weak one by moving some full brood frames from the strong to the weak, with intent of replacing the brood frames with new frames of foundation only.

Went smoothly until my wife put one of the boxes against her midsection to help lift the weight.  The weight pulled the veil down, and the bees got into her suit and all.  She suffered a bunch of stings, and got the boxes all back together, but forgot to put the new frames back in the robbed brood chamber.

Now we have this colony with a brood box of "wild" comb at its heart.

We would like some tips on how to proceed to replace this brood box.  The box itself is very old and is beginning to deteriorate.

Last spring this colony divided twice.  We caught both swarms and tried to get them to move into a nice, furnished box. but both times they left.

[Hi-Tech]

Would it be possible or practicle to put the remaining 8 frames in a new hive body and then add 2 new frames to replace the missing ones?

[thegolfpsycho]

If your not in any hurry, you can add a super.  I didn't notice your location, but with any kind of winter, they will move into the top box as they eat their stores.  Then next spring, just remove the deteriorating box along with the mess of combs.  Then just move the super onto the bottom board and your good as new.

[Hi-Tech]

Yeah...  that's what I was gonna say next... ;)

Seriously though, thats a really good idea....

[amymcg]

That's the easiest most non-invasive way to deal with the situation.  Otherwise, if you can't wait, you could cut the comb out and tie it into frames with rubber bands and move everything.  Could take some work though.

[Michael Bush]

It is a straightforward cutout.  You cut out the combs.  Harvest the honey (brush off the bees and put in a bucket with lid) and tie the brood into frames.

Swarm catching frames will expidite the process but aren't necessary.

http://www.beesource.com/plans/swarmframe.htm
http://www.beesource.com/plans/scf/index.htm (click on the little pictures to see bigger ones)

[jaime]

Thanks for all the replies.

We are in Northeast Georgia, pretty marginal nectarland.  Not much winter, especially last few yrs.

We currently have one deep box (the one with the four missing frames from the middle), then a medium super we left on there for more brood chamber room and for their honey storage, then a queen excluder and a medium super for our honey.

The non-invasive is the preferred method here.  I guess it's a little late already for just removing bottom substandard housing unit, as they are really active now.

Suppose we wanted to switch to an eight-frame system to attain a more lightweight handling for the lady beemeister.  Do the frames interchange for some kind of managed exodus?

[Michael Bush]

>Suppose we wanted to switch to an eight-frame system to attain a more lightweight handling for the lady beemeister. Do the frames interchange for some kind of managed exodus?

Any frame of the same depth fits in an eight frame or a five frame box.  The issue is the depth.  A deep frame won't fit in a medium box.  Eight frame mediums are what I run.  They weigh about 48 pounds full of honey.

If you're doing a cutout anyway, tie them into medium frames and put them in an eight frame box, or a ten frame box, if you already have it, and an eight frame later.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beeseightframemedium.htm

You can even mix the different sized boxes:

http://www.bushfarms.com/images/TenFrameToEight.JPG

[jaime]

Mr. Bush,

Thanks a lot for your time and attention! :)   I have saved the text and photos.  

We should be able to find our way out of these woods with your help.

Jaime