Can I Use Old Hive Boxes?

by David
(Delaware County, NY)

I have found 20 or so old hives (wooden framed) in a barn in NY State and wondered if I can use these to start new hives...... if so do I need to disinfect?

I also found some very light weight papers the same size of the portion of the hive were honey is made, what are they for?

Thanks for the help.

David

Hi David

It would be a good idea to disinfect the boxes if you don't know what happened to the bees which were in them. You can do this by scrubbing them with a caustic soda solution and rinsing them. Or using a blow torch to scorch the inside, particularly the corners.

Neither of these is an easy or pleasant task and caustic soda is pretty nasty stuff. I don't know of any other way of disinfecting them which isn't likely to affect the bees in some way subsequently.

As for the papers I'm afraid I have no idea. Could they have been the tissue type paper you get between sheets of beeswax foundation?

If you find out what they are I'd be interested to hear.

The Bee Guy