[Iddee]

Question...I have a double deep with no frames, full of bees, honey, and brood. What can I do.

Another beek's suggestion................

Setup a full hive body under the whole thing trying to draw the queen down into it then pull the super then the old hive body.

My answer..............

That will work if you can lift it. It is likely 150 lb. or more. Otherwise, it must be treated as a cut out. Using a wire like a piano string, pull it under the inner lid and remove the lid. Cut the combs loose and place the ones with brood in empty frames..."no foundation". Place the frames in a new hive body. Honey combs should be kept for personal use or to feed back to the bees. DO NOT try to place the honey in new frames. It is too heavy.
Cut the remaining comb from the bottom box and do the same. Press the frames together and finish filling the new box or boxes with foundation or drawn comb frames.

It is a very messy job and the bees will not be happy. Dress accordingly.

 

[Charles]

Nice write-up, Thanks Iddee

 

[No_Bivy]

It is a very messy job and the bees will not be happy. Dress accordingly.

:ugeek:

 

[BeeHunter]

Idee,
One way I use the captured honey in cut outs is to feed it back to the girls I got it from. I either crush and strain or just pour it over some comb in a pie pan and placing it on top of the hive under the cover.
Last year I did a real late cutout w/ little chance of building up for winter. The bee's where entering an elderly ladies home so I had to remove them. I saved the honey and combined the bee's w/ another small swarm. Then I fed the girls 2/1 honey water over the winter. They survived the winter w/ 1 qt of honey left over!