Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Cindi on September 29, 2007, 10:51:03 am

Title: Uniting a colony -- lost bees?
Post by: Cindi on September 29, 2007, 10:51:03 am

Right, I have a question that I have been meaning to ask for quite some time and get so interested in reading all the forum posts that I keep forgetting.

There is a chance that I may have to unite a colony with another colony soon.  I have united colonies many times, using the newspaper method, successful, but the colonies united were generally very close to each other.

The two colonies that I may need to unite are several hives away from each other.  So....is there any way to ensure that the foraging bees from the colony that is to be moved don't get lost, trying to find their way home, which will not be there any more.  I would imagine making the move after the bees are flying at night or before the bees fly in the day would be the best method, but then you would be dealing with a house full of bees, and right now, the houses are really really full of bees.

Any theories or past experiences with this uniting of colonies would be greatly appreciated.  Come on guys, bring it on!!!!  Have a wonderful and excellent day in this excellent life we live.  Cindi

Title: Re: Uniting a colony -- lost bees?
Post by: Understudy on September 29, 2007, 11:00:27 am

You can leave an empty hive where you are moving the bees from.

Also do combines just as night fall is starting. Most of the bees will be home.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

Title: Re: Uniting a colony -- lost bees?
Post by: Brian D. Bray on September 30, 2007, 02:32:49 am

As Brandhen says, leave an empty hive in the location 1 hive is removed from to catch the stragglers.  Otherwise just combine the 2 hives using the newspaper method.  In a day or so do the same thing with the stragglers that returned to the empty hive.

Title: Re: Uniting a colony -- lost bees?
Post by: Cindi on September 30, 2007, 11:23:09 am

Brendhan and Brian, makes sense, if this is a required action, that is the procedure I will take.  Have a great day, beautiful life.  Cindi

Title: Re: Uniting a colony -- lost bees?
Post by: Old Timer on September 30, 2007, 07:17:27 pm

any bees left behind will join one of your other hives after a few attempts to get past the guards. i'd do a newspaper combine and not worry about it.

Title: Re: Uniting a colony -- lost bees?
Post by: Cindi on October 01, 2007, 10:54:22 am

Old Timer, now that seems to be the most simplest of all  :)  Have a wonderful day, great life.  Cindi