Inherited hive.

[Boykins]

I inherited a hive last year from a great uncle, he had not touched the hive in at least 3 and possibly 5 years. What I found inside was a mess. It was a deep and 2 shallows, the shallows weren't so bad, a little scraping of some burr comb and they were ready. The problem I need to deal with now is the deep, it had 3 frames on each side and 1 frame angled between those. The bees filled all the space between. I need to know how to get everything moved up. I really don't want to save any of the comb, just the bees. Thanks for any advise.

[Perry]

First of all congrats on the free bees. 
If there is brood in that box, place another deep on top of it and let them move up (over the course of a few weeks). Once they have moved up simply remove the bottom box and have at it, either cleaning it up or disposing of it.

Oh, Hey!
I see that was your first post. 
You have found a friendly place to hang out and ask questions.

[Woody Roberts]

Obviously these bees are surviver stock and should be treasured as such. I think I would set a new deep on top of the old one and move as many frames up as I could. Fill the new box with frames.
If you can get some brood frames up they'll move right in.
Once I had eggs, brood, queen in the top box I'd put a queen excluder between the two boxes. Be sure to have a top entrance for the drones to get out.

Once the brood in the lower box hatches out I'd just shake them into the hive, remove the excluder and the bottom box.

Perry posted while I was typing. That'll work too.

[Jen]

Hi There Boykins- You're gonna like it on this forum. Interesting project you got going there! Perry and Woody spelled it out pretty good.

Perry and Woody- what about feeding this hive while the bees are moving upstairs?

[Woody Roberts]

I only feed until necter starts coming in. He's in east Tenn. just barely south of me. It won't be long.

[barry42001]

so 5 frames total in the deep, in the one and two slots, and the 10 and 8 slot, with the 5th one angle the cross the space between..oh that had to of been a mess I wouldn't toss the comb exactly, but you can clean up those five frames so that they will fit correctly together have new frames ready to fill on either side cut out all that cross comb if the pieces are big enough you can put them in frames and rubber band them in place the bees  will attach them to the frame.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

[iddee]

Not knowing your beekeeping history and whether you have more hives, I suggest you do as the first posters said. Cutting and framing loose comb is for the more experienced beek.

Barry, I think the count is 7. 3 on each side and one crossways.

PS. Welcome to the forum.

[G3farms]

Welcome to the forum!
Good on ya for free bees too!

Where abouts are you in the East TN area, I am in deeeep west Knoxville, and would not mind lending a hand if you are close by and needed it.

[lazy shooter]

Welcome to the forum!
Good on ya for free bees too!

Where abouts are you in the East TN area, I am in deeeep west Knoxville, and would not mind lending a hand if you are close by and needed it.

Hey G3 I am only 750 miles southwest of you.  Could you come lend me a hand next week?     Seriously, it's nice of you to offer your assistance to a fellow beekeeper.

[G3farms]

Lazy, just send a round trip ticket (and that's not on the dog either) be there in the morning!

[Slowmodem]

Welcome neighbor and good for you!  This is a great place to learn, cuss and discuss all kinds of subjects!   

I hope it all works out for you!

Where in East TN are you?

[apisbees]

Welcome to the forum all good advice. Did you get smoker hive, tool, bee suit, as well with the deal?

[Boykins]

Thanks for all the advise! I put another deep on last fall(sorry I left that out) and it is drawn out and beginning to fill with brood. I was going to try and move the comb into frames, but it seems to have been built haphazardly. I have 4 additional hives, and waiting on 5 nucs. Thats how I got picked to take over this colony. Thanks for the offer G3, I live between Greeneville and Newport.

[G3farms]

OOHH! That is a little better than an hour from me, but could do a weekend if you wanted too.

[Boykins]

G3 thanks for the offer. I have a couple of extra rooms. If you ever need some extra help, I would also be willing to come your way, I'm always willing to work to learn.

[LazyBkpr]

Good deal! Glad to have you!
   I'll agree with Perry AND Woody now that I know you have a deep already started.

   I also think its a good experience to learn here..   Put the excluder on as Woody said, queen above it. Let any brood in the bottom box emerge. Pull the bottom box and excluder, set the top box on the bottom board.
   Transfer any good frames to a new box. Cut the free comb loose, and rubber band it into frames. Make sure to keep it right side up. the cells DO have an up and down. Keep the top side up when you rubber band them in. Then slide those frames in between the already drawn frames. Set it on top of the other brood box and let the bees fix them up..
   it will give you invaluable experience, and if you do mess up a few, you haven't lost anything. Succeed, you get to see how the bees will work those rubber banded combs, and eventually pull the rubber bands out the front of the hive..
   Welcome to Beekeeping Boykins!
   

[DonMcJr]

Don't have anything to add to the already good advise just wanted to say hello and Welcome!