old black comb??

[blkcloud]

my brood box is full of old black brood comb..do i need to remove it or is it fine to use?thanks!!

[BillS]

Your bees will be better off if you replace a few combs each year. The thought is that disiese and pesticides build up in the old comb, not to mention it just plain gets ratty after years of use.
Try feeding new frames of foundation(I am using small cell) in between old frames.
I try to arrange for the worst combs to be in the bottom brood box in the fall. That way the chances are they will be empty come spring and easy to replace. If you replace 4 or 5 a year you can keep your combs in good shape.
This is also a good swarm prevention if you use the new frames to keep the brood nest open.
Good luck.

Bill S

[iddee]

Old frames contain many coccoons and get smaller with each generation. Why replace it and buy SC when it is already smaller than original. If it is solid and the bees are using it, I keep it.

[Michael Bush]

I can't say it's a bad idea to replace it. The main reason I can see to replace it would be the chemicals building up. I never replaced any until I was converting to small cell. So I had some that was 27 years old.

[Jeff]

I have a bunch of old dark comb and honey I scavenged from older hives. I know I can feed the honey back but will they re-use the comb and is it a good idea to let them???

[Michael Bush]

Yes they will reuse it. I would let them have it.

[Wee3Bees Apiary]

Michael,

"Yes they will use it. I would let them have it." How would you give it back to them? Scavenged to me, Jeff, could mean that you have entire frames or parts and pieces (like during a cutout, etc.).

You would have to assemble the pieces of comb into combless frames using rubber bands or string I suppose, right? Currently, I am doing this with a few hives and have a lot more in the freezer that I need to do something with, but am not certain how to give it back.

Any specifics for the queen shaker? By the way, what could you do with comb that was accitdentally rubber banded into a frame (which is now attached but upside down in frame; leave it and the bees will fix it or will the cells always be pointing down?)