Swapping from a rotten hive to a new hive

[Jim282]

Hello, I've been gifted a hive with bees from a kindly gentlemen who is having to give up beekeeping due to health reasons. The bees are in my possession and doing well in their new location. Unfortunately the hive that they're in is made from ply and fairly rotten. It is just a brood box with no supers. I have a brand new poly hive (both the rotten one and new one are nationals), is it simply a matter of transferring the frames from the rotten one to the new one, or is there something special I need to be doing?

 

[drex]

That is all I would do at this time of year. It will give you a chance for a good disease inspection too. If the frames are old, perhaps a Bailey change next spring.

 

[Jim282]

Yes, the frames are old but serviceable. Will it make much difference what time of day I do the swap?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Move when the bees are flying.
Ideal this weekend
Move hive aside
Put new box in its place
Transfer frames.
Job done.

 

[drex]

No. if not that experienced then you might prefer to do it in the afternoon when lots of bees will be out foraging with less in the hive. I assume the old hive will not have orientated to the new site until ready to do transfer. Place old hive on new site and open up and let the bees fly for a day or two. If you transfer immediately you get the hive home they could be feisty. When ready to transfer, move old hive aside, place new hive in the place of the old and transfer the frames.

 

[Repwoc]

I think he said the bees are already in their new location.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Place old hive on new site and open up and let the bees fly for a day or two.

No need - a minute or two is ample

 

[Jim282]

Great - thanks for all the advice. Yes, the bees have been in their new home since Thursday evening. I'll move them tomorrow daytime when many of them will hopefully be otherwise engaged.