Keeping Ants Out of Empty Hives?

[SkFarm25]

I have roughly 30 supers that's are full of brood stock and old crystallized honey. they are all stacked nicely in my garage. I want to make sure that no mice or flies get in them which wont be too hard but I see that there are some ants running around already. Wondering if anyone has a good idea to seal these hives up. I have them stacked about 6 medium supers tall. Id like to seal them up as best I can and then but borax or something out for the ones outside, just not sure if its ok to poison the ants and have been come in contact with them one day? Maybe I'm being too careful, I jus don't want the ants making a mess of things.

[histopicker]

Folks use Cinnamon powder to keep ants out of hives. Why keep the old dead brood? Or is it just old brood comb?

[bk]

Apr 21, 2015 21:25:03 GMT -5 SkFarm25 said:

I have roughly 30 supers that's are full of brood stock and old crystallized honey. they are all stacked nicely in my garage. I want to make sure that no mice or flies get in them which wont be too hard but I see that there are some ants running around already. Wondering if anyone has a good idea to seal these hives up. I have them stacked about 6 medium supers tall. Id like to seal them up as best I can and then but borax or something out for the ones outside, just not sure if its ok to poison the ants and have been come in contact with them one day? Maybe I'm being too careful, I jus don't want the ants making a mess of things.

We stack the hives with comb / old honey like you do.  Put a piece of ply or osb on the top and bottom and that seems to keep the mice out. Haven't had an ant issue - yet, knock on wood, so don't have any suggestions there.  And so far haven't had moth issues with the old comb either.

Think I'd try histopickers suggestion to deal with the ants - pretty natural solution that won't add poison to your supers.

Let us know what you do and if it works.