Need help salvaging a hive left in a hive box without frames

[Armistead]

I took over maintenance of a hive that was abandoned in a hive box with only two frames inside. The hive built natural comb to fill in the rest. The bottom board was nailed to the hive box, as was the top cover. The hive attached their comb to the bottom of the top cover. I removed that top cover, which caused some of the comb to break off and placed a new hive box, with frames, on top of the old one.

I noticed after taking a look after waiting a few days that the hive is building comb on the bottom of the frames in the new hive box. I guess I should have really expected that.

The bees have also gotten fairly aggressive over the last few days with lots of buzzing around the hive entrance. I see that worker bees are going back into the hive with their legs filled with pollen but I suspect there may be some robbing going on which is causing the bees to be aggressive.

What should I do at this point? Do you think I should try to dump all the bees from the old hive into the new hive so they won't build on the bottom of the frames? Or should I just leave them alone?  If I do move them how should I move the natural comb into a foundationless frame?  I've heard you can placed large rubber bands around it.  Is this recommended?

Also, if there is robbing will adding an entrance reducer help with that? The hive is fairly good size so I wonder if an entrance reducer would be appropriate.

Thanks so much,

David

[gardeningfireman]

David,
I don't have a lot of experience, but I have done a lot of reading(learned a lot here). I would treat the old hive as a cut-out. I would cut out ALL of the old comb and fit it into the new frames and hold them in place with wide rubber bands or kite string. Make sure you orient the comb the same way. Put the brood comb in the middle and the honey/pollen comb toward the outside of the box. Put the old box (if it is salvagable)loaded with empty frames on top of the now full box. Voila, a new two-deep foundationless hive! I would also feed them a 1:1 syrup to get them building new comb in the upper box.
Good Luck!
Alan

[Kathyp]

look in the removal section and read up on cutouts.  that's about what you will be doing.  you can remove the comb that has brood and band it into empty frames.  remove the other comb and let them start over.  there are also some videos of just this kind of removal from the 'bud2' get together.  they have posted them for us.  you might find some inspiration there.  

it's not as hard as it sounds.  it just takes a little time and care to make sure you preserve the brood and hopefully the queen.

[asprince]

If the old hive body and base is in good shape, I would do exactly what you did. Give them more time, they will fill out the top frames and the queen will move up. The "cut out", if required, would them be less stressful. Some drawn comb in the top box may speed up the process.

My $0.02 worth,

Steve   

[Michael Bush]

If they are reasonably straight I'd do a cutout.  If not, I'd flip it upside down and add another box on top.  Some spring it will be empty and you can pull the empty box off the bottom.

[chiggerbait]

I had exactly the same situation last year.  I finally placed a box of frames under the old box and put a fume board on top with Bee Go.
Drove most of the bees including queenie down below, then did a cut out placing old comb into new frames and 'viola' new hive.

Chigger

[Armistead]

Thank you so much for all the great info.  :)