Reworking old hives

[Chris.english70]

Next month I am setting two package hives of my own! Yay! My uncle has three hives that have been for the most part untended for more than a year.  He has given his blessing to enter those hives but cautioned me not to disturb the brood. I know those hives are covered in pro and burr comb. My question is concerning adding a second brood box (there is only one now) and catching the queen to remove the trashed brood box below and clean it up (after allowing brood to hatch, of course). I'm thinking another deep hive section above and once the queen is identified in the upper brood add a queen excluder between the two so I can remove and clean the bottom. Concerns, comments? Any input is appreciated!!!!

[BeeMaster2]

That is how you do it. Move the queen above the excluder and place an excluder below her.
I recommend that you put a drawn super above the brood box and come back a two days later. She will probably be in it laying eggs. This way you will not have to deal with the old box until all of the brood has hatched out.
Jim

[Chris.english70]

Thanks for the reply!!! Don't have any drawn, was hoping to put a box on and let them build it.  Unfortunately the hives my uncle has lost have been infested with moths and I'm pretty much starting from scratch!