Used Equipment -- Is It Safe to Use?
Yes, some parts of used equipment can be cleaned up
with a propane torch and would be fairly safe to
use, especially for an experienced beekeeper.
Where the big problem lies is in the brood chamber.
Here the Queen lays her eggs. Most diseases that
threaten the hive health are brood diseases, one of
the worst of these being
American Foulbrood. This is a spore-producing
disease. These spores have been found to remain
active for over forty (40) years. If the spores are
present on the used equipment, they can multiply and
become a big problem.
Old
brood comb can be a problem as well. Each cycle of
brood will leave behind a cocoon, thus making the
cell progressively smaller and smaller, resulting in
each generation of bees becoming smaller until
finally a point is reached where the Queen refuses
to lay an egg in these cells.
Moldy, white-ish pollen, not fit for the bees to use
and too hard to remove, can also restrict the area
that the Queen has to use.
The
solution for the new beekeeper for the above
problems is to start with new equipment, new frames
and new foundations. The investment will more than
pay for itself in healthy bees and satisfaction to
the beekeeper. There is plenty of time to get into
second-hand equipment once you get to know what you
are doing.
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