Uniting -- what about the flying bees

[ShinySideUp]

I may have to unite a couple of hives (have yet to confirm presence or absence of queen). The two hives are about three metres apart so when I move the hive with no queen to the one that has one the flying bees will come home to nothing, how do I get around this?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

get everything ready for the unite, then move the box to the top of the recipient hive last thing in the evening

 

[Erichalfbee]

I agree
Unite when the bees have stopped flying. Evening or very early morning. In this heat I lift the top crown board till the bees are through

 

[enrico]

If the bees get home and find the hive gone they will have a look round for the nearest hive. They will generally be accepted in as they will have goodies! Just remove the hive and stand otherwise they will collect on it.
E

 

[masterBK]

I put a travel screen on top to replace the crown board when uniting in this heat with the roof placed crossways over it to allow ventilation of the top box in order to prevent suffocation and death from excessive temperatures. I learnt the hard way (see photo) during a previous heat wave.

 

[ShinySideUp]

I put a travel screen on top to replace the crown board when uniting in this heat with the roof placed crossways over it to allow ventilation of the top box in order to prevent suffocation and death from excessive temperatures. I learnt the hard way (see photo) during a previous heat wave.

Ah, yes, I see.


Well I looked at the bees today and didn't bother with a test frame on my queenless hive as they were lethargic and getting robbed by wasps blatantly, they had obviously given up so I united them with another queen-right but small colony. I did not think about the heat problem and may well have the same thing happen to my bees as you did to yours. The hive was in shade when I did it and remains that way for the rest of the day so fingers crossed...