Dead Hive

[fullframe45]

I will not go into the why and how because i know it was propably down to my lack of inexperience .Lesson learnt. Anyway i have a dead DB hive and have managed to sort of salvage two frames with some stores and nectar . I am wondering if i can use theese again in another hive and if so how and when. I am not sure about this because as you can see some of the cells have mould not sure if its ok to use em or dump em. I am sure there was no disease in the hive just starvation as all the other frames were dry and very brittle . They were treated last autumn with vaping ,but too small colony for DB in winter.

 

[Swarm]

If you are happy and convinced no disease, I see no problem they are quite clean. A soft brush may remove excess mould.

 

[user 819]

Pollen mould isn't uncommon, damp is more likely a cause, if left long enough it turns to dust as the pollen mite does it's job.
I treat any combs with acetic acid and air them before reusing for feeding if short or for nucs & swarms.

 

[Boston Bees]

I am never 100% sure about giving old pollen to a colony, so tend not to do it.

I would leave the capped honey area intact, but either cut or scrape the pollen area out completely and let the colony you give it to rebuild that comb.

As you have some uncapped honey/fondant there I would probably keep it in the freezer until I wanted to use it. But that's not entirely necessary.

 

[fullframe45]

I did not want to risk making matters worse for the sake of a couple of frames,But every little helps as i have only got a few hives. Thank You.

 

[ericbeaumont]

never 100% sure about giving giving old pollen to a colony

I don't disagree with caution, but what are your reasons, BB?

 

[oliver90owner]

I don’t think it was due to lack of inexperience - rather the opposite!

What makes you think it won’t happen again?

Discussion may improve your expertise and help others in the same boat.

 

[Boston Bees]

I don't disagree with caution, but what are your reasons, BB?

Weeeellll ....

Giving very old pollen frames to a different colony is one of those things I have seen in articles and on videos as something not to do.

It's not a disease thing. Just that I believe it is the case that old pollen:

a) is unattractive to the bees, but also
b) can go very hard, and as such be difficult for them to get out.

The result being that those cells could just get ignored, and be wasted, possibly mouldy space in the hive.

In essence though, it's just that, as we all know, honey lasts forever, and even old honey can be useful and won't "go off" (though I guess some types of honey do solidify). Whereas pollen clearly can go off, or at least "stale", and can go mouldy too.

So I just prefer to get rid of it if it has reached the mouldy stage after a long winter.

I mean .. I would eat raw pollen, but if you gave me a spoon and told me to eat that mouldy stuff I would politely decline But I would eat the old honey willingly

Maybe I'm wrong.