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Barnyard Buddies:  bee keeping question  |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4316 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4316 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 05 2012 : 04:11:16 AM
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I checked my hives yesterday, and my split hive has died out. Just wondering what I should do next? this is my second winter, so I have no experience with this. I will clean it all out, but do I save comb in case I split a hive? What is the best way to store comb? Is it okay to give the stores of honey to my other hive, if they need it? Harvest the honey? Some of the comb is older and dark, is it best to let them make new comb? Can you use that dark comb for anything? I am foundation less too. Just wondering if anyone has any experience with this.
Michele |
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StrawHouseRanch
True Blue Farmgirl
1044 Posts
Paula
Holt
Missouri
USA
1044 Posts |
Posted - Feb 05 2012 : 08:07:23 AM
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Hi Michele,
You can save comb to attract a swarm or assist a split by keeping it in your freezer. The freezer will also kill any bugs that might be in there.
I would not feed the honey from the died out hive to the other hive without knowing exactly what killed your colony. There is a delicate balance within a hive and inserting strange honey might throw them off. The slightest amount of toxins might do some serious damage.
Old, dark comb that isn't good for saving or melting down into beeswax goes to the edge of the woods for nature's creatures to disburse and make use of. It will disappear in no time.
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/StrawHouseDesigns |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4759 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4759 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2012 : 1:38:39 PM
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Good luck Michele with the rest of your hive!
Dawn in IL |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4316 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4316 Posts |
Posted - Feb 07 2012 : 04:19:46 AM
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Thanks Paula and Dawn, I did get an email back from my mentor. He says that the bees love the dark comb. I will be saving it all. Just need to take it apart and clean out the dead ones.
Michele |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4759 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4759 Posts |
Posted - Feb 07 2012 : 11:04:06 AM
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Good luck with your other hives. Let us know how they are doing!
Dawn in IL |
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Barnyard Buddies: bee keeping question |
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bee keeping question
