Uniting two colonies far apart

[Monbees]

I want to unite two colonies which are currently about 50m apart, so would take too long to move one colony 3m per day.

I will be using paper unite with the weaker (Q-) hive on top, also weaker hive being the one to move. Weaker hive currently facing East, strong recipient hive facing South.

Is there any way this will work, or will the weaker hive foragers fail to re-orientate themselves once they have chewed through the paper?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

What you describe is fine - by the time the bees get through the paper and mix with the other colony, they will re-orientate to the new location

 

[Monbees]

What you describe is fine - by the time the bees get through the paper and mix with the other colony, they will re-orientate to the new location

I had thought to try the air freshener method of uniting but thought, given the circumstances, the traditional newspaper system would work better.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I had thought to try the air freshener method of uniting but thought, given the circumstances, the traditional newspaper system would work better.

Exactly - if the method ain't broke, why try and fix it.
Although It galls me to buy a copy of the torygraph.
Last time I did, I asked the girl at the newsagents to wrap it in a copy of 'Reader's wives' to save me the embarrassment

 

[Monbees]

Is the torygraph the one to go for, in this instance, of course?

 

[Swarm]

Tabloids don't fit, you need a broad sheet.

 

[drex]

Thankfully my demented ( really) father in law has it daily. I clear the surplus when we visit him.

 

[Codford]

FT gives a nice pink confetti effect underneath the hive...

 

[Monbees]

FT gives a nice pink confetti effect underneath the hive...

Saw the FT was £4 so went for the TG at a mere £2.80. Hoping to unite tomorrow.

 

[Monbees]

I want to unite two colonies which are currently about 50m apart, so would take too long to move one colony 3m per day.

I will be using paper unite with the weaker (Q-) hive on top, also weaker hive being the one to move. Weaker hive currently facing East, strong recipient hive facing South.

Is there any way this will work, or will the weaker hive foragers fail to re-orientate themselves once they have chewed through the paper?

I was a bit premature in saying the weak hive is Q-, there is a queen but she is poor. Just wondering at what stage, before the unite, should I do the deed; in advance, or at the time of uniting?

 

[pargyle]

Last time I did, I asked the girl at the newsagents to wrap it in a copy of 'Reader's wives' to save me the embarrassment

I can see a nice little earner in this JBM - HIVE COMBINATION PAPER .. I have access to special paper specifically designed for combining two colonies of bees. Impregnated with magic oofle dust to help the bees work through it. Comes with full instructions and delivery and at only £3 a sheet including postage an absolute bargain.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I can see a nice little earner in this JBM - HIVE COMBINATION PAPER .. I have access to special paper specifically designed for combining two colonies of bees. Impregnated with magic oofle dust to help the bees work through it. Comes with full instructions and delivery and at only £3 a sheet including postage an absolute bargain.

In London they would pay double for it

 

[Amari]

Exactly - if the method ain't broke, why try and fix it.
Although It galls me to buy a copy of the torygraph.
Last time I did, I asked the girl at the newsagents to wrap it in a copy of 'Reader's wives' to save me the embarrassment

Tabloids don't fit, you need a broad sheet.

No, two overlapping sheets of the Guardian does the job. No need to go buying copies of the extremist press.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I was a bit premature in saying the weak hive is Q-, there is a queen but she is poor. Just wondering at what stage, before the unite, should I do the deed; in advance, or at the time of uniting?

Prep both hives in afternoon
Remove duff queen
Unite in evening when bees not flying

 

[Monbees]

Thank you Dani, very clear.

 

[Monbees]

I was a bit premature in saying the weak hive is Q-, there is a queen but she is poor. Just wondering at what stage, before the unite, should I do the deed; in advance, or at the time of uniting?

So, plan to unite colonies today did not work as I failed to find the weak queen.

I suppose I could unite anyway with the addition of a QE, so the workers would chew through the paper via the QE but the queen could not get through. Nor, unfortunately the drones, of which there is a whole frame in the weak hive. I read somewhere the drones can be released after 24 hrs by lifting the crown board, but then presumably the queen could also fly out and cause confusion? (not clipped). The frame of un-emerged drone could then be combined into the strong brood box? Am I making this too complicated? I really did try by inspecting the frames several times, to find the queen.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

So, plan to unite colonies today did not work as I failed to find the weak queen.

I suppose I could unite anyway with the addition of a QE, so the workers would chew through the paper via the QE but the queen could not get through. Nor, unfortunately the drones, of which there is a whole frame in the weak hive. I read somewhere the drones can be released after 24 hrs by lifting the crown board, but then presumably the queen could also fly out and cause confusion? (not clipped). The frame of un-emerged drone could then be combined into the strong brood box? Am I making this too complicated? I really did try by inspecting the frames several times, to find the queen.

Not a good idea at all - you have two queenright colonies piled into the same box (QX or no) it will be carnage, you could well end up losing both queens, or most probably end up with just the failing queen

 

[Erichalfbee]

So, plan to unite colonies today did not work as I failed to find the weak queen.

I suppose I could unite anyway with the addition of a QE, so the workers would chew through the paper via the QE but the queen could not get through. Nor, unfortunately the drones, of which there is a whole frame in the weak hive. I read somewhere the drones can be released after 24 hrs by lifting the crown board, but then presumably the queen could also fly out and cause confusion? (not clipped). The frame of un-emerged drone could then be combined into the strong brood box? Am I making this too complicated? I really did try by inspecting the frames several times, to find the queen.

No.
You have to find her.

 

[Monbees]

I will try once more to find her, failing that will just allow the weak hive to continue and hope they may supersede and produce a better queen. I usually suffer from wasp infestations later in the summer so wanted, on the advice of a number of people here, to ensure my hives are as strong as they can be, hence the wish to unite.

 

[Monbees]

I will try once more to find her, failing that will just allow the weak hive to continue and hope they may supersede and produce a better queen. I usually suffer from wasp infestations later in the summer so wanted, on the advice of a number of people here, to ensure my hives are as strong as they can be, hence the wish to unite.

A beekeeping friend came over and helped me locate the queen! So, she is now marked which gives me a bit of confidence to think again about the unite. Surprisingly the hive was not as weak as it was a week ago so am inclined to give it a second chance.

The swarm from this hive about 6 weeks ago is going great guns - neither hive is preparing to swarm again in the near future. These were the two hive I intended to unite.