Shaking bees to new equipment

Shaking bees to new equipment is a management strategy for European Foulbrood (EFB) that is more effective than for AFB because EFB spores are less persistent in the hive environment. Similar to AFB shaking, this involves transferring bees from EFB-infected hives to new, clean equipment. The old combs, which harbor the EFB bacteria, are removed and destroyed. This method reduces the bacterial load in the hive and gives bees a fresh start. For EFB, shaking bees is considered a viable organic control method, especially in milder cases or early detection. It is less drastic than burning and can be effective in combination with other supportive measures. New hive boxes and frames are necessary, and a hive tool is used for manipulating hive components during the transfer.