Adding a frame of bees

[oregonsparkie]

The population in my observation hive has dwindled to a group about 6" in diameter. If I add a frame or two of bees from another hive will the new bees try and kill the old queen since their number will be greater??

Any suggestions

[Finman]

They probably kill the queen or tear it.

You should give a frame of emerging bees to hive and shake all other bees away. They do not know their queen. But frame should be in warm place 32C so bees emerge from combs.

[Michael Bush]

If you take a frame of bees, when the weather is supposed to be warm, and put them in a two frame nuc (or a large box with a division board) and leave them queenless overnight and then put them in, it should do ok. But if you put them straignt in, Finman is right. They will ball the queen.

[oregonsparkie]

Thanks everyone... Ill give that a try

[oregonsparkie]

Well I did it. Yesterday I pulled two frames of capped brood from my other hive and put it into a box by themselves. Today I put the frames into my Observation hive.

I really expected to see a war when I put them into the OB hive but they ran up to where the queen was and started to feed her. Im always amazed by the fact that they seem to do the opposite of what I think they would do.

Once again, thanks for the previous replies.

[Tatonka]

Having read the above posts causes me some concern, I pulled a couple of frames of capped brood out of my feral hive and added it to my store bought hive yesterday without leaving them alone over night??? Have I just screwed up?

Eric

[MichaelW]

I don't know Tatonka, but I recently put 3 frames of brood and bees into a weak hive that only had about 2 frames of bees and a queen to give it a boost. I spaced the frames new, old, new, old, new. They started buzzing, and then I laid on the smoke thick and heavy till they quieted down. (I have not yet noticed bees or larvae dying from too much smoke and will use it "liberally" when I feel the need.) A week later this hive greatly improved in stregth and the queen is laying like never before. I was thinking she was a week queen, but she just needed more support.

[size="1"][ April 11, 2006, 11:42 AM: Message edited by: MichaelW ][/size]

[Mitch]

Correct MW the queen will only lay as many eggs as her workforce will is able to support.