Due to a couple of unexpected swarm captures I've ended up with more hives than I'd planned for (or want!) so I'm thinking of combining one or two of the swarms with a weak hive. The weak hive is from a split I'd done earlier in the year that's just getting going in a single deep, and I hate to kill off a good queen. So I'm thinking of moving the split queen into a nuc with a couple frames of bees and brood, then do a newspaper combine with the swarm hive (putting the swarm on top of the split hive).
If I do this, how long should I wait after removing the queen to make the combine (if at all)? Since the hives will be separated by the newspaper it seems to me that I could do the combine immediately.
My plan would be to do the combine in a week or so to make sure the swarm hive's queen is laying.
If I do this, how long should I wait after removing the queen to make the combine (if at all)? Since the hives will be separated by the newspaper it seems to me that I could do the combine immediately.
My plan would be to do the combine in a week or so to make sure the swarm hive's queen is laying.