Used comb from empty hive

AlamoBee · November 15, 2015, 11:52:16 AM

I am a first timer and now one of my hives is completely empty this morning. Two weeks ago it still had bees and brood, but was steadily declining. My second hive is booming and I recently added another box to give them some space. The two hives are next to each other and it looks like the empty hive has been robbed out of honey, but still has drawn comb and some pollen stores. Would it be ok to move the drawn frames from the empty hive to my good hive? I was thinking it would save the bees some work and give them some free pollen.

Kathyp · November 15, 2015, 12:23:14 PM

It's a good idea. As long as the first hive didn't die from disease, and it probably didn't, reusing drawn comb is great.

Not sure what your winters are like, but watch expanding at this time of the year. hives are usually drawing down and you can find yourself suddenly with way to much room for them to tend. You'll end up with critters or cold bees.

As long as they are still raising plenty of brood or bringing stuff in, you should be ok. If you have someone in your area that you can talk to, find out about reducing hive size for winter.

HillBilly2 · November 15, 2015, 02:07:24 PM

Think about freezing the frames for a few days and saving them for spring. Drawn frames are gold when making spring splits or starting packages.

Eric Bosworth · November 16, 2015, 12:47:48 PM

I'm with Kathy. But my winter is about to start. I would frees the frames or perhaps just leave them outside where they will freeze naturally in a few weeks and wait until spring. This afternoon I plan on putting sugar bricks on top of my hives and closing them up for winter. But living in Texas you probably have a lot more warm weather ahead of you then I do. Warm weather however does not mean anything will be in bloom and if nothing is available for the bees to bring in then it is probably still a good idea to wait until spring.

BeeMaster2 · November 16, 2015, 01:19:24 PM

What Kathy said.
Here in the south, if we leave drawn frames out, the moths and roaches will destroy them during the winter. I have mine stacked with moth crystals (not moth balls). I pulled supers from my hives 2 weeks ago. They are still bringing in honey but by now the queens have cut back on laying eggs and their numbers are reducing for winter. Hives are all very heavy but I am betting on them not swarming until January at the earliest because I am not seeing any drones.
Jim

KeyLargoBees · November 16, 2015, 07:49:32 PM

He's in San Antonio...while winters are milder there they can and do still have Freezing temps for several weeks in Dec/Jan/Feb...so building in November isn't a good idea. Hold em till spring and watch your colonies boom as they skip the comb building stage and go right to brood /store collection. and +1 on the freezing....at least to kill the critters for a few days then storage indoors or in an airtight box in garage or basement.

Eric Bosworth · November 16, 2015, 09:04:13 PM

I have only been to Texas twice. Dallas both times. The first time I was there it was colder when I got off the plane in Dallas then when I got on it in Binghamton. I have never been to San Antonio so I can not speak to the weather there. I have had a frost several times already this fall and it is not uncommon for snow this time of year.

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Dallasbeek · November 16, 2015, 11:02:56 PM

I've seen the temps vary 89 degrees in a day i San Antonio. I 've seen temps fall 60 degrees in a few hours in Dallas.

KeyLargoBees · November 17, 2015, 08:48:15 AM

To true DB...I was raised in Houston and those Blue Northers are something else....Cold front moves through and temp drops of 30+ degrees in an hour or two are not uncommon.