Please forgive me for not searching this out, but I think with just a few replies I can get the answers I need.
I want to combine 2 hives tonight. Both hives do not have laying queens yet. Both hives had queen cells 2 weeks ago and I am just waiting to see evidence of them having queens. Meanwhile the population has gone down a lot in one hive and since I believe both hives will probably miss the honey flow here, I want to combine them to up the population and hopefully have them make some honey for themselves this Fall.
So my questions are:
1. I know I place one sheet of newspaper between the hives with a few small slits. Is this correct??
2. Do I need to close up the top entrance so the hive on top will want to go down??
3. With 2 supposed queens that are not laying yet, what are the chances I will end up with a queen when done combining?? Both queens should have been mated by this time because we have had only good weather for weeks.
4. Anything else I need to do?? Should I spray them with something to mask the odors? Sugar Water perhaps??
Thanks for the help. I was hoping to accomplish this tonight.
Annette
You may have two mated queens if all went well, but there are no guarentees Annette, you will have to check them.
Newspaper combine them. You could spray the newspaper with a little sugar water and smoke both boxes a little.
Close the top.
...JP
I usually get a mated queen in the parent hive. Now a quality queen is a different story. Have not had luck with that.
I have had troubles with requeening hive with cells. May be the age of the cell unknown and damaging during handling.
I have newspaper combined once. It went very smoothly the way you mentioned above. I didn't use the sugar water. Sure couldn't hurt I guess. I hear some folks add a drop or two of vanilla in the water as a masking scent. Never tried it.
One sheet. A few small slits. Yes. I would leave them both an entrance just for ventilation purposes.
Thanks for the help on this.
Annette