hilda-and-evadne Posted September 27, 2012 Share Posted September 27, 2012 Just inspected both hives and whereas the first (older) colony appears well set up for the winter, the second colony (from a nucleus swarm this summer) definitely is not. I have been feeding the second colony but they still have almost no honey stores, and they are too few in number - I guess - to be able to keep warm when the temperature really drops. Could I ask, please: can I just put the smaller colony brood box on top of the older colony brood box (or on top of the older brood box plus super)? Should I not do something to ensure that the queens do not meet? At the moment I cannot visualise how to do that and at the same time ensure that both queens continue to have access to stores. Should I arrange the brood boxes and supers like this: empty super with sugar syrup feeder 2nd colony broodbox queen excluder 1st colony super 1st colony broodbox Would be very grateful for any advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilda-and-evadne Posted September 28, 2012 Author Share Posted September 28, 2012 I had read about but forgotten this - nice picture and short description here http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-combine-two-bee-colonies-into-one-hive.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 Don't forget to take the queen out of the weaker colony. If you want to play instead pop the small colony into a nuc box, preferably poly,close the floor for warmth and bung on as big a slab of fondant as will fit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilda-and-evadne Posted September 30, 2012 Author Share Posted September 30, 2012 Don't forget to take the queen out of the weaker colony.If you want to play instead pop the small colony into a nuc box, preferably poly,close the floor for warmth and bung on as big a slab of fondant as will fit I think she fell out while I was moving the weaker colony broodbox. After I'd moved the broodbox, I noticed a small clump of bees under the stand on which the weaker hive had stood, not going anywhere, just moving around in a cluster. I was about to try to add them to the combined colony when I remembered that I didn't actually want the queen from the weaker colony so I left the clump where it was and closed up the combined colony. By the following morning, the clump of bees had disappeared. If I had a nuc, I would have swept the clump into it. I must buy a nuc, as it is evidently a very useful thing to have as back-up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 Best of luck. All will be revealed in the spring Let us know how you get on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilda-and-evadne Posted October 1, 2012 Author Share Posted October 1, 2012 Best of luck.All will be revealed in the spring Let us know how you get on Thank you - your help much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 Poly nuc boxes are very very useful. I have three from Paynes. The integral feeder is a bit of a payne.... and I prefer to use the ekes you can buy and feed from on top but I wouldn't be without them. They were invaluable when I had to AS this spring in the teeth of bad weather. The colonies did much better being swarmed into a smaller box. You can overwinter a small colony very successfully too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
