Uniting 2 good colonies

[Stedic]

I planned to have 4 colonies this year, but after a swarm moved into a nuc and my swarm management stuff within my hives, I've ended up with 5 good colonies and a nuc.

All colonies are healthy, laying well with enough stores to get them to the ivy. I'm in two minds about taking them all in to the winter. I could do with Getting them out of some old, pretty knackered kit. I'm thinking of uniting two colonies, and placing the old queen (with brood etc.) into a poly nuc as an insurance policy for winter losses.

Is this sensible, given I will end up with one pretty big colony, or should I just overwinter them as they are and see what the spring brings?

 

[enrico]

To be honest either plan has its pros and cons.
Go with your gut feeling
E

 

[Ian123]

If there all good then go and overwinter the lot in the best case they all survive and you can sell 1 off to pay for any new equipment needed. Pointless to unite now imo and you have no idea what winter will bring