Broodbox and super a mess

[HEV261]

Hi all I've only been beek for 13 years still learning i'm trying to strighten up a hive thats a mess been without a owner for maybe 3yrs all matted togeather brood , 2
supers if i start by putting a new brood bx on bottom then set old br bx on top of the messed up bx with new super on top that and old supers on top that will they move all honey down in new bx so i can get read of messed up bxs. Some one gave this hive to this man he wants to et some bees and learn tonbe a beek, i'm trying to shelp out.

[indypartridge]

If there's no big hurry, what you're suggesting is what I'd do - separate the boxes with the goal of having them eventually move into new boxes. If you can get the queen laying in one of the new boxes, you can use an excluder to keep her from returning to the old box. Then, once the brood in the old box has all emerged, you can remove it completely.

[psfred]

I have not tackled one of these before, but I'd put the new brood box on top of the old ones after removing the supers. This will encourage them to move up, particularly now when they should be in a white wax flow. As soon as the queen is laying in the new box (which should be as soon as they draw the comb out some), find her and put her in the top box and put an exluder underneath. When the brood is all emerged in the bottom box (three weeks), add another new brood box if you want it on top of the other new one and pull the bottom box out and clean it up. You may or may not be able to re-use the comb, expect to discard it all if it is really crosscombed. You might be surprised. At any rate, you can re-use the frames with new foundation, etc.

For the supers, just bottom super with fresh foundation. They should draw them out nicely with a good flow. When it appear that the old supers are pretty much capped, pull them and decide what to do then -- cush and strain, cut them apart and extract, etc. Again, the combs may be usable after you cut out the mess.

Make sure you have some drone comb in the new box, I think doing so will cut down on the burr comb and drones everywhere syndromes.

Peter

[HEV261]

Hi every one thanks for the info. My thought are put new brood bx on bottom, old ,supers on top the will build comb and move the food and every thing down and fill bottom bx . this is what i'm hoping for if not will try other way. i had for gotten about the other way emty on botttom. thanks

[psfred]

I would want them to empty the old box, and putting a new one underneath means they will leave the new one empty this fall and cluster in the old one again. I feel it's better to put a new box on top of the old brood box, then remove it when there is no brood in it. The bees are more likely to move up into fresh foundation than they are to move downout of their established brood nest, and as summer turns to fall and the brood rearing decreases, they leave the bottom box empty.

Probably work your way, too, but you may end up reversing the boxes to get the brood out of the old one in the fall.

They like that old nest, it's set up just the way they want it, and most queens will preferentially lay in old comb.

Peter

[HEV261]

Thanks Peter will do it that way the replys iv'e gotton all say thats the way to go. will go back and undo what i have done , an set up that way we have a good
flow going right now here in n.e. corner of al.