Split aggressive hive in two to unite?

[Huggibear]

I have a really aggressive hive which nearly made me give up last year ( first year beekeeping) but will need moving .......
They are in a polyhive and already pretty full and so nasty that I gave up on the inspection in this weeks window of warm weather. I have 2 gentle hives on another site -( more than 3 miles ). Should I just combine between these 2 before the drones start to avoid any risk to the 'gene pool ' .I'm worried it will go wrong and have never seen the queen as they run all over the comb so would I combine over a queen excluder ? The gentle hives are a building well by the looks of things so will adding to them make them burst and swarm?
Thanks for any ideas

 

[Erichalfbee]

Whatever you do you need to find the queen and once you have requeen the colony with s bought in queen.
If they were mine I wouldn’t be uniting but replacing the queen. If you search on here there are posts on queen finding.

Edit
This is from a Michael Bush but worth a read
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesrequeeninghot.htm

 

[Poly Hive]

No offence but you are a beginner and it seems you feel a bit uncomfortable and out your depth here. A nasty colony is truly horrid and not only that but a menace in general.

Assuming you are a club member phone the sec and ask for help.

Failing that possibly ask here for an experienced person to assist? Note experienced and a competent queen finder as the two are not always married...

PH

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Whatever you do you need to find the queen and once you have requeen the colony with s bought in queen.
If they were mine I wouldn’t be uniting but replacing the queen. If you search on here there are posts on queen finding.

uniting two Q+ colonies spells disaster - don't even contemplate it so' whether you decide to requeen or unite (I would opt for the second if you can source a queen) you need to find her and squish her.
It's the foraging ('Flying') bees that are most agressive so bleed them off before starting:

Move your aggressive colony a couple of yards away from the original site.
Put an empty spare box with maybe a couple of frames in at the original site.
Wander off and have a cup of tea.
When you finally return to the original hive you will be left with a much depleted colony with just the nurse bees and queen.
Find queen and give her the gatepost treatment.
Immediately requeen.
If you still intend to unite, leave the bees settle and put on top of the recipient colony that evening - I would still use a queen excluder between the boxes.
As for the box full of flying bees? leaving them to their own devices for a day or two won't do them any harm, then, just shake them out anywhere and leave them beg their way into other hives

 

[Huggibear]

Thankyou so much for taking the time to respond. It has confirmed that the queen must be found whatever I decide to do. I hadn't thought of uniting with just the nurse bees so think this may be the path I take. I will definately ask for help if my next inspection is the same as the last. I was worried about feeling pressure to requeen -and as it's so early,needing to wait for ages with a big angry colony ,before a local queen is available - since i'm reluctant to buy in a queen from abroad. Then the wait for a hive to settle....I had considered making a nuc / taking a frame of eggs from one of my gentle hives but that is really weeks off yet and a risk in terms of acceptance .
Thanks again

 

[Wingy]

My 2 penny worth & possibly another consideration. If your hive is a large strong colony they may resist re queening and try to raise their own, which is what you don't want.
I'd wait for now and order 2 mated Q's asap. Day before arrival move the hive as suggested above and place a nuc with foundation / drawn comb which the flying bees will return to now Q-. Find Q in with young bees and say goodby. Transfer young bees, frames with brood / stores to a nuc and leave in that location. Other frames could be put in other nuc instead of foundation (but make sure Q isn't there). Now you have 2 Q- nuc's which are weaker colonies and more likely to accept new Q.

 

[coffindodger]

Thankyou so much for taking the time to respond. It has confirmed that the queen must be found whatever I decide to do. I hadn't thought of uniting with just the nurse bees so think this may be the path I take. I will definately ask for help if my next inspection is the same as the last. I was worried about feeling pressure to requeen -and as it's so early,needing to wait for ages with a big angry colony ,before a local queen is available - since i'm reluctant to buy in a queen from abroad. Then the wait for a hive to settle....I had considered making a nuc / taking a frame of eggs from one of my gentle hives but that is really weeks off yet and a risk in terms of acceptance .
Thanks again

I understand the ideals of a local queen, but may be better to just accept a 'foreign' queen and go quickly to a gentle hive. Must be a mated queen of course or you could end up with the same problem. The difference and speed at which requeening works is wonderful.Turns horror into pleasure.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I wouldn’t have any qualms using an imported queen protem. You can always dispose of her when you can get what you want later in the season.