Am I too late....

[jenkinsbrynmair]

QCs now, mated and laying in an ideal world four weeks from now. How many winter bees will you get? Maybe enough to put in a three frame nuc to mollycoddle through the winter. No brainer for me......unite with your strongest colony.

But if you are going to have a punt but only a fool would leave all the QC's in situ. In the words of the great philosopher Poo - 'you never can tell with bees'

 

[Mrs Shoot]

QCs now, mated and laying in an ideal world four weeks from now. How many winter bees will you get? Maybe enough to put in a three frame nuc to mollycoddle through the winter. No brainer for me......unite with your strongest colony.

have managed to persuade hubby, will unite hive 2a back with hive 2 after removing all QC's. Part of the reason I split this colony was to double my chances of getting a queen when we found the colony with QC's 5 weeks ago. This was a strong colony, there are still lots of bees in both halves.

 

[Erichalfbee]

This was a strong colony, there are still lots of bees in both halves.

Getting old though. None will overwinter.

 

[Mrs Shoot]

Getting old though. None will overwinter.

Not expecting them to, but if they can help to make this a good strong colony going into winter then worth it. There is also the test frame full of brood (minus the QC's), that they will bring with them. Every little bit helps.