Using last years drawn Supers

[bobh1969]

Hi, Do I need to clean last years drawn super frames before re-using ? I put them back on the hives after extraction for the bees to clean out, and overwintered them in a reasonably clean part of the garage, but will I need to do anything else before putting them back on ?

 

[REDWOOD]

Check for wax moth

 

[kighill]

Check for cobwebs and tidy the combs up a little if required. I have spent the morning scraping the wax build up off the top bars, removed any badly damaged combs for melting and cleaned up propolis and wax where required.

I have also replaced a few of the plastic runners which were not up to my spec.

 

[Arfermo]

Hi, Do I need to clean last years drawn super frames before re-using ? I put them back on the hives after extraction for the bees to clean out, and overwintered them in a reasonably clean part of the garage, but will I need to do anything else before putting them back on ?

No unless they are damaged - then replace foundation perhaps. Best to put last years supers back on the hive from which you removed it if you can remember so as not to spread any disease.

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

Good advice from the others.

Also, just to note that you said you got the bees to clean up the supers after extraction. (They are usually called 'dry' supers.)

That's not a bad thing to do. For example, it gives the bees access to at least the remnants of their hard won honey - and it stops having to store supers which might leak honey, unless standing in some sort of tray.

However, there is a lot to be said for not doing that - but storing them in the state they came out of the extractor (unless they are 'blown') - called 'wet' supers.

First of all, dry supers are much more susceptible to wax moth; wet supers rarely do suffer in this way. Protecting dry supers from wax moth is a pain.

Secondly, when it comes to putting supers back on the next season, the bees just love wet supers; many beeks think they do much better than giving back dry supers. [And both are better than getting the bees to draw out foundation.]

Why not give it a try next autumn?

Dusty

P.s. Your profile says you don't have any hives! Time to edit, methinks.
Hope your second year is good.

 

[bobh1969]

Thanks All, stored them wet last year and it left a bit of a mess, I ended up discarding some because I was unsure about putting fermented honey back on, I have checked a few frames and no evidence of wax moth ( so far )

 

[Finman]

Thanks All, stored them wet last year and it left a bit of a mess, I ended up discarding some because I was unsure about putting fermented honey back on, )

Wash in warm water and shake them dry. Combs are valuable.

 

[Ely]

Wouldn't the bees repair the damaged comb?

 

[REDWOOD]

They certainly will

 

[Ely]

They certainly will

Ah good. Thought I might have to faff for a minute there. All is well

 

[Tomo]

Drawn comb is like rocking horse poo. I flick out any grotty bits of comb or mould with my hive tool and the bees put everything right. I put on wet supers this weekend. Storing was a mess with sticky drips in the garage but no big deal with a sheet of ply cut to size underneath and on top. I am interested to see how soon the girls will clean them up and start drawing out a couple of plain foundation frames in amongst the wet ones. I used drawn dry comb last year, they were filled in super (!) quick time. I have alot of OSR surrounding me so hope to use the energy from this flow to draw some more foundation. Good luck, let us know how you get on. PS if you want frames drawn then place new frames of foundation over the top of the brood nest.....nice and warm for wax production.