Taking Over a Deceased Beekeeper’s Hives – How to Handle Abandoned or Neglected Colonies

Abandoned hives are more common than many beekeepers realise and they often raise difficult questions about disease, safety and colony survival. In this video I show you what happens when beehives are left unattended, why some colonies become wild or feral and how to take over the bees from a deceased beekeeper in a safe responsible way. You will learn the main reasons hives are abandoned including ill health, lack of experience, unmanaged swarming, heavy varroa infestations, brood disease and winter failures that go unnoticed. I explain how long term neglect affects comb, brood patterns and colony structure and why abandoned hives can become high risk sources of mites and disease for nearby apiaries. The video also covers how to judge whether an abandoned hive is salvageable, how to inspect it safely, how to handle frames that may be infected, how to check for pests and how to decide whether the colony should be rescued, combined or euthanised. I discuss what happens when colonies go feral, how they cope without treatment and the risks associated with bringing these bees into your apiary. If you are taking over colonies from a deceased beekeeper, I show you the exact steps to follow to protect your own bees. This includes assessing equipment condition, checking for foulbrood, treating for varroa, replacing dangerous comb, rehiving the bees correctly and making sure the inherited colonies are healthy enough to continue. If you want complete month by month guidance across colony health, risk management, honey production and the full beekeeping year you can join 14 Day Beekeeper. It includes over two hundred and fifty exclusive lessons and gives you a clear system that helps you keep colonies strong and avoid the problems that lead to abandoned hives. Access the course here https://www.blackmountainhoney.co.uk/... Recommended Playlist:    • Bee Health – Strong Colonies, Disease Prev...