Uniting query.

[robbohenn]

I have 2 hives both which were colonised this year. One has a medium sized colony (that I purchased in june with a marked queen)., the other was a donated swarm which is a much smaller colony in which I have failed to identify the queen, but as they have been resident for nearly 4 months she must be there. The larger colony occupy about 6 deep brood frames but with very little stores. The small colony occupy about 3 deep brood frames and about 2 with stores. I have started to feed both colonies but wonder if I should be uniting them so they make it through the winter. Should I keep the Q/E between them and the Ashworth feeder above the top brood box? I will be using the newspaper seperation method.
Thanks for any advice.

 

[Boston Bees]

I wouldn't unite them personally. If something goes wrong with the remaining colony you arrive in spring as a non-beekeeper. No reason why colonies of those sizes can't make it.

Just feed both, treat for varroa properly (if you haven't already), house them appropriately, and see how they go.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Why do you think the both wouldn't make it through winter as separate colonies? Both sound fine to me, just treat, feed and keep an eye on them

 

[Erichalfbee]

If the frames the bees are not in are still foundation then dummy them down. Seems a bit if a waste of a queen to unite

 

[Wilco]

Agree with the above, no reason you can't get them through winter as two separate colonies if using the above advice and probably more sensible. Have some fondant handy late winter just in case. Make sure they're well insulated.

Only need QE if being used to provide beespace between BB and feeder. Most people have removed QE at this point.

 

[user 819]

Dummy down the smaller colony as they will be trying to heat extra space they don't really need or place then in a 6 - 8 frame nuc. One can always make up a wide dummy board out of PIR or ply/correx to fill the unneeded space.

 

[user 819]

One can use an existing too bar/ frame or two to make a wider dummy board sandwiching PIR or even correx/ply cut to make up the required width, 4" ali tape is useful as well.

 

[robmort]

If you haven't seen the queen in the smaller colony, how do you know there is one? Seen eggs/lavae?

 

[robbohenn]

Why do you think the both wouldn't make it through winter as separate colonies? Both sound fine to me, just treat, feed and keep an eye on them

It was just that the smaller colony seemed to be low on numbers in comparison to the other one.

 

[robbohenn]

If you haven't seen the queen in the smaller colony, how do you know there is one? Seen eggs/lavae?

I have seen a bit of brood, but I don't get enough time to look for the queen as they get quite narky!

 

[robbohenn]

Thanks for your advice. I will carry on feeding, remove any undrawn frames and and fill space with wider dummy boards.

 

[user 819]

I have seen a bit of brood, but I don't get enough time to look for the queen as they get quite narky!

Is it definitely flat worker brood and not domed drone brood ?