Author Topic: Using Drawn Wax Comb Frames From Neighboring Hives  (Read 1289 times)

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Offline Jen

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Using Drawn Wax Comb Frames From Neighboring Hives
« on: March 13, 2019, 08:50:00 pm »
OKAY WAIT! Before ya'll jump all over this post... Let me explain :D

Due to last years drought and smoke, my bees didn't do much work. I am in desperate need of drawn wax frames.

In our last bee meeting, a beekeeper said he lost all of his hives and has a lot of wax frames stored. I jumped right in there and asked if there was anyway I could use his frames in my hives... considering the dreaded American Foul Brood?

Our Ag commissioner said that the commercial beekeepers in Calif use terramycin prophylactically to keep AFB under control.

Can I do this as well? and how would I do this effectively?
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Offline iddee

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Re: Using Drawn Wax Comb Frames From Neighboring Hives
« Reply #1 on: March 13, 2019, 09:03:54 pm »
Whether it works or not is irrelevant. The government now requires a prescription to buy or use it. You have to get a veterinarian to check your hive and prescribe it before you can use it. The vet will not prescribe it for AFB.

NOW, AFB is so rare, I have bought used equip. for 40 years and the only AFB I have ever had came in with a live hive, NOT empty equip.
I would chance it and use the frames. If Calif. has a good inspection team, as we do in NC, I would have the inspector come look at it before I put it in hives.
“Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”
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Offline Wandering Man

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Re: Using Drawn Wax Comb Frames From Neighboring Hives
« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2019, 11:32:09 pm »
Our Texas inspector as also said that AFB is rare.

I never heard the ending of your story from last year.  I'm guessing the problem turned out to be something other than AFB?
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Offline Bakersdozen

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Re: Using Drawn Wax Comb Frames From Neighboring Hives
« Reply #3 on: March 14, 2019, 09:57:33 am »
Why did the other beekeeper lose his hives?  How old is the drawn comb?
I am assuming that you are going to use these frames to make up splits to sell.  Would that be correct?  If so, will you tell your customers where you got the frames from?

Offline Jen

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Re: Using Drawn Wax Comb Frames From Neighboring Hives
« Reply #4 on: March 14, 2019, 10:00:25 pm »
Hi Baker,

1. Many of us have lost a good amount of hives due to Calif trouble. But this guy was a newbee and I'm not sure why. Maybe he didn't feed, maybe he didn't treat. But I will surely be asking these questions.

2. Drawn comb is prob one year old.

3. Yes, need frames for splits to sell and to keep on hand. Regretfully, Also I am trading out my wired wax for plastic foundation, might as well get some frames that are already drawn. Holds up better, comb stays uniform, and doesn't blow out in the extractor.

4. Hadn't thought of that, but good idea to inform where some of the frames have come from.
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Offline Bakersdozen

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Re: Using Drawn Wax Comb Frames From Neighboring Hives
« Reply #5 on: March 15, 2019, 03:28:56 pm »

4.  I think that is only fair.   :bee:

Offline iddee

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Re: Using Drawn Wax Comb Frames From Neighboring Hives
« Reply #6 on: March 15, 2019, 04:59:38 pm »
Rather than do that, I would only sell nucs with my own comb and use the "gotten" comb for a season in my own yard. If brood did well in it, I wouldn't worry about it next season.
“Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”
― Shel Silverstein

Offline Jen

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Re: Using Drawn Wax Comb Frames From Neighboring Hives
« Reply #7 on: March 15, 2019, 05:04:19 pm »
Hmmm, that is a good idea as well  ;)
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