In the 2-year process of switching over from running all-medium equipment, I am left with LOTS of old medium capped honey frames (primarily sugar syrup frames that never got eaten during winters). I'm talking about probably ~20 boxes worth in total. What in the world should I do with them? Most are on old comb that I would likely rotate out anyways...
1. This is too much for me to try and freeze all at once
2. If I uncap and set out now to open feed, I would worry about plugging up my colonies or contaminating supers that are already on
3. I could try to freeze in batches, store, and then open feed later this fall
4. I could donate if anyone could use them for splits or getting started
5. I could extract them and save any good comb for honey supers, but what to do with all that sugar-syrup "honey"
Any other options I'm not aware of? Any advice appreciated!
Old capped "honey" frames
Re: Old capped "honey" frames
My vote is extract, store the sugar syrup honey in 5 gallon buckets or similar storage, and feed back to the bees after the flow. With the cost of feed these days, I'd want it going to where it is most needed. The winter before last, I extracted sugar water "honey" for some first year beekeepers to use as feed. We were successful at getting their bees to draw lots of comb and cap a couple of medium supers. This gave them some feed for the next season and open, drawn comb for bees to clean and use during the next flow.