[beeup]

I'm just getting around to cleaning my winter deadouts. By now some of the dead bees are rotting in the cells, really stinks. How well do I have to clean these up, or will new hives, packages clean them up for me?

 

[merince]

I usually shake off/brush off whatever I can from the combs and scrape off the bottom board. This should take care of the majority of the casualties and stink. A package can easily clean up the bees stuck in the cells and any mold that's growing.

 

[shannonswyatt]

The swarm that flew into the deadout in my yard did a bang up job of cleaning it! I say let the bees do it.