Spent Mating Hives

[nantmoel]

I have today removed 6 mated queens from our mating hives, I have another 4 to go, may I ask what others who breed their own queen do with the bees and brood that remain in the mating hives.

 

[Michael Palmer]

I unite 4 into 1 with a remaining queens.

 

[stevebrowning]

If they're apideas then the frames and bees go into a big hive via a feeder or super, just lent together until all hatched and integrated into the bigger colony.

 

[madasafish]

One of my spent mating hives is raising their own queen with no intervention from me.

With the expected warm weather and some drones around, she might even get mated.

 

[Eyeman]

Ontop of the crown board with feeder hole open

 

[masterBK]

I modified a super to hold 30 Apidea frames

 

[Poly Hive]

Mobus made an eke which took about 30 odd frames of brood and stores and used it to unite to a weaker unit to boost it for over wintering. Not so tricky to make.

PH

 

[masterBK]

Photo of super holding 30 Apidea combs

 

[Quis Custodiet]

View attachment 13551

Photo of super holding 30 Apidea combs

Quite clever design and use of top bars. Not seen split tops for a long time.