Rookie mistake. I put an entrance reducer in the front but left a large enough space in the roof for mice to get into the hive. Didn’t check on the hive for several months, thinking I was supposed to leave them alone through the winter. Today, I found that the mice had killed/eaten every bee and much of the comb. Arrgh.
The hive stinks of mouse urine and droppings. My question is if the remaining comb can be used by a new package/nucleus in the spring? Do I need to start completely from scratch?
I can’t speak for the flow frames, however with wood frames, I’d render the comb out & sterilize the frames, box, lid & base & start again. I’m guessing that with the flow frames, you’d disassemble them & sterilize them in bleach & water no hotter than 70degC.
Xin loi about the mouse in the house problem ! Wow ! I’ve not had this issue personally. But I’ve worked with a commercial beekeeper n seen the damage they do to frames n inside of a hive. It’s really buon lam to see.
I would follow Jeff’s advice. Did the mice (con chuot) damage the plastic flow-frames ? Do your best as Jeff has suggested. Maybe a couple more beekeepers will jump in here with further comments n thots also.
Chuc Minh may man voi your hives in the future. We are all learning from our mistakes. Cam on nhieu for share bro …
Hen gap lai ,
Rotten little buggers! Sorry to hear that Minh. Your kit will be good as new after the cleaning Jeff recommends. Thanks for posting, it’s a good prompt for me to go outside & double check on my situation - my bees died, but I have lots of nice comb and some stores outside waiting for new bees…I believe it’s all sealed tight against pests, but always good to check!
I was waiting for your devilish cute comment ! This Vietnamese costume is called a Ao Dai n worn daily (not as fansy) by native Vietnamese… During Tet holiday n other important event expensive silk Ao dai like mine are worn. . My Ao dai was tailor made for me in Vn. I worn it at my Vn grandaughter’s wedding back in July. . Enough about my dress for now Eva n Dawn. We’ll all get booted off here for getting off subject Dawn ! . You know how much I worry about that.
Tomorrow is suppose to be nice n milder so guess my girls will be out checking n foraging hazelnut as the Indian Plum is ready yet.
The flow frames are safe. I took them in for the winter. It was the brooder wood frame that was affected. So, there’s no salvaging what’s left inside the brooder as far as the wax and uneaten honey, right? Although there’s not much honey. It was mostly 30 lbs of sugar syrup since the nectar flow was next to nothing this summer.
Thanks for the replies, as well as the OT pics on VN “ao dai.” I think women look beautiful in those dresses, which become moving art canvases.
Oh dear, I have the devil in me today, sorry 
. My Ao dai was tailor made for me in Vn. I worn it at my Vn grandaughter’s wedding back in July. 
. Enough about my dress for now Eva n Dawn. We’ll all get booted off here for getting off subject Dawn ! 
. You know how much I worry about that.