weak hives

[islayhawk]

Friend lost the queen from one hive. I have a strong hive 8miles away so took a frame of eggs & young brood from it to encourage them to draw a queen cell. That didnt work so decided to combine his Q- hive with my second hive which is sited at his apiary and although was not very strong did have a laying queen. However now find that the combined hive appears weaker with no sign of eggs. I am reluctant to take another frame from my strong hive. Difficult geographically to obtain another Queen.
Suggestions?

 

[maddydog]

Without wishing to sound harsh but I'd be looking at the quality of that apiary. (At least) two colonies that are doing poorly despite an injection of brood from another site. Have bees ever done well there?

 

[Eyeman]

Woops!
You made the mistake of not drawing QC's on a test frame as confirming queenless..
Unfortunately only works if they drawn QC's.
So there may have been a queen in both of the hives you combined if one was a dud she may have won the battle explaining the poor outcome,
Other possibility is why was the hive weak was there disease ie. high varroa numbers or nosesma?
Probably worth checking!

 

[REDWOOD]

colonies this time of year should be bouncing unless they have swarmed which is what probably happened to your mates hive with a virgin queen that has not started laying yet or not mated, combining with two queens might of killed your laying queen leaving a virgin or infertile queen. All probabilities though