Displaced bees

Local question related to beekeeping in the Piedmont Triad area asked and answered here!

Moderators: Jacobs, Wally

Post Reply
WannaBee1
Forager
Posts: 86
Joined: Sat Feb 23, 2013 1:22 pm
Location: Lindley Park, Greensboro

Displaced bees

Post by WannaBee1 »

I am wondering what happens to all the bees displaced when four medium supers (above a brood box with three supers and a queen excluder) are removed for honey extraction. They can't go back in their hive, can they? It seems there wouldn't be room for them. Does this cause problems and fighting due to overcrowding? Does the queen slow her egg laying for a few weeks until the displaced bees die?

I'm also curious and want to ask what happens if the extracted frames in their boxes are returned to the bee yard but added to a different hive. Does that cause robbing with other hives nearby?
Wally
Guard bee
Posts: 1839
Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2005 2:35 pm
Location: Randleman

Re: Displaced bees

Post by Wally »

The supers should be extracted and either returned to the same hive or prepared and stored. Putting them on another hive is a great way to spread disease. Return enough of them to allow the bees to get inside at night. They can beard on the outside during the day.
WannaBee1
Forager
Posts: 86
Joined: Sat Feb 23, 2013 1:22 pm
Location: Lindley Park, Greensboro

Re: Displaced bees

Post by WannaBee1 »

Thanks for the information, Wally! :)
Post Reply