To remove all comb from the original brood box which may be contaminated with disease spores and/or have wax moth infestation
To fumigate and freeze all 11 frames
To cut wax from poor comb and to clean all frames for re-use
To replace these frames with clean drawn comb or foundation. Note – if foundation is used, bees MUST be fed

As soon as the bees are strong and active, have a good balanced brood pattern and before they become overcrowded, usually from mid-March.

In the original box find the queen and transfer her on her frame with bees into the centre of a new brood box with 10 frames of drawn comb, stores and foundation if required
Close the gap in the original box putting a division board outside the 10 frames
Put a queen excluder on the original box and the queen in the clean box on top
As soon as the queen moves onto a new frame to lay put the frame she came up on back into the original box, having removed the divider board
About 21 days later the worker brood should have all emerged and any drone brood can be opened and checked for varroa. Then remove both boxes off the floor. Use a clean floor to put the new box on
Add 1 frame to make up to 11
Discard the queen excluder and put another brood box with 11 frames on top; if foundation, feed, and close up
Shake the bees off the original box in front of the hive

The original box, floor and frames are now ready for freezing and fumigating.

George McCrone, Spring 2007

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