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Offline DLMKA

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dead-out frames
« on: January 12, 2014, 02:07:01 pm »
It warmed up enough today to go check hives. 1 loss out of 21 so I'm pretty happy at this point since a week ago we had temps down to -24F for a few days. I know we're a ways off from the end of winter but confident that the worst of the cold is past.  The one hive that died starved to death an inch or so away from capped honey and had a full, untouched medium yet. That box of honey is going onto another hive after I give it a chance to warm up a little but I have two medium boxes of comb now with thousands of bees with butts sticking out.  Should I put those combs into the freezer or will they be okay sitting in the garage. They just froze outside so no risk of SHB or wax moth larvae. I just don't want them getting all moldy and nasty.
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Offline iddee

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Re: dead-out frames
« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2014, 03:08:47 pm »
Smack them against a surface to dislodge what dead bees you can, then put them in the garage. Be sure they are mouse proof. You will have some mold, but the bees will take care of it.
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Offline robo

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Re: dead-out frames
« Reply #2 on: January 12, 2014, 03:45:16 pm »
 :yah:
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Offline Jen

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Re: dead-out frames
« Reply #3 on: January 12, 2014, 03:59:07 pm »
My first guess would be the freezer
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Offline blueblood

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Re: dead-out frames
« Reply #4 on: January 12, 2014, 06:07:37 pm »
1 out of 21 isn't that bad.  Good.
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Offline BoilerJim

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Re: dead-out frames
« Reply #5 on: January 12, 2014, 08:39:16 pm »
What I have been doing is I use a mouse guard and leave it outside until warmer weather. By then I hope to have a swarm to put inside.
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Offline DLMKA

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Re: dead-out frames
« Reply #6 on: January 12, 2014, 10:31:45 pm »
Quote from: BoilerJim on January 12, 2014, 08:39:16 pm
What I have been doing is I use a mouse guard and leave it outside until warmer weather. By then I hope to have a swarm to put inside.

There is still a good amount of honey, not worried about it outside until the weather warms a little. Don't want it all robbed out .
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Offline DLMKA

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Re: dead-out frames
« Reply #7 on: January 12, 2014, 10:40:46 pm »
Quote from: blueblood on January 12, 2014, 06:07:37 pm
1 out of 21 isn't that bad.  Good.
So far. Still have 8 weeks or so before we start getting out of the woods. I expect to lose 2, maybe 3 more. This hive was sitting on a patch of capped brood about the size of a baseball and starved an inch away from 40lbs of honey.
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Offline Perry

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Re: dead-out frames
« Reply #8 on: January 13, 2014, 07:08:57 am »
1 out of 21 is excellent. Last year I lost 1 of 29, I don't ever expect to be that fortunate any time soon. While 10 to 15% are historical winter losses here, they have been hovering around 30 to 35% the last several years.
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Offline apisbees

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Re: dead-out frames
« Reply #9 on: January 13, 2014, 08:05:03 am »
As iddee said get rid of as many you can and store in a cool dry location allow ventilation so moisture can escape. It is surprising how much moisture is released from dead bees.
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Offline Slowmodem

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Re: dead-out frames
« Reply #10 on: January 13, 2014, 08:26:07 am »
This would be a good time to spray them with BT if you do that kind of thing.
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Offline DLMKA

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Re: dead-out frames
« Reply #11 on: January 13, 2014, 09:36:25 am »
Quote from: apisbees on January 13, 2014, 08:05:03 am
As iddee said get rid of as many you can and store in a cool dry location allow ventilation so moisture can escape. It is surprising how much moisture is released from dead bees.

I may just put them in the basement with a fan and dehumidifier blowing over them to desiccate the dead bees. I was afraid of whacking them too hard yesterday when they were cold, didn't want to damage my combs (wax foundation and still a fair bit of honey in the corners).

Quote from: Perry
1 out of 21 is excellent. Last year I lost 1 of 29, I don't ever expect to be that fortunate any time soon. While 10 to 15% are historical winter losses here, they have been hovering around 30 to 35% the last several years.

We still have a good 8 weeks of winter before the maples start blooming, not out of the woods yet. I'm planning on losing a few more before it's all said and done. I talked to a friend just east of me that lost 22 out of 31 already this year. Gonna be a rough season of rebuilding for him.
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