Combining two hives

visar09 said:

Hello Guys!

I have a weak colony and I want to combine it,with a strongest one.But the problem is that the weak colony is
in a different place from the stronge colony.About 200 metres away.I am afraid that some of the foragers from the weak colony will
return to the old weak hive.What can I do??

Click to expand...

I would suggest the following steps:

1) wait for the bees to return to the hive (late evening) and then close the entrance.

2) Remove the outer and inner covers from the strong hive. Place a sheet of newspaper, or ideally an even thinner paper, if available (with 8-10 sizeable slits in it) over the top of the strong hive. Spray it gently with diluted honey. Place the weak hive on top of the strong one. Shake any bees, if left on the weak hive's bottom board, into the weak box.
*(2a) Another option would be to just spray the top of the strong hive with diluted honey and place the weak hive on top. The bees should be ok and merge well without fighting).

3) Close the hive.

4) Very important!: Make sure to place a branch at the entrance of the combined hive so the bees from the weak hive, once they start coming out in the morning, are forced to reorient. The reorientation process will assure they now return to the new location and do not drift back to the old.

5) Go back to the hive in 3-4 days and reduce the boxes (move the used frames from the weak box to the strong box(es) beneath) if the weak addition has too many unused frames.

Miha" explanation is good,

The first thing you need to do is locate the queen in the week colony and get her out.

Then follow Miha's explanation right up to the news paper combine. instead do as Mr. Beeman advise an do not do the slits in the paper. as this will slow the introduction into the new hive. In this way you will not need to place the branch in front of the entrance. However you can if you like or feel it necessary.

When you go back to manage the hive do so with no particular reduction plans in mine. And this is assuming your hives currently have only one deep brood chamber or two shallows. see how many bees are in the configuration. if bees cover all the frames in the lower box(s) and any frames containing brood in the upper then simply leave them together. If not then condense them you do not want to overcrowd, but you don't want Too much space either.