At my house I have 1 strong hive and one weak hive. The queen in the weak hive is starting to lay good patterns however, there aren't enough bees in that hive (maybe 2-3 frames) to cover the brood. I've read that you can switch hive positions and strengthen a weak hive and take some pressure off an overly strong hive. My question is won't it cause a big fight when the bees come home and there are diffrent bees in a weakened state? Won't the returning bees simply kill the queen and bees in this weakened hive? Hope I'm explaining this right. Thanks' Brad
No, the foragers will take up with the hive that is in their original home's location.
Switching hives is an easy way to build up weak hives.
Do the bee's that live in the hive not defend it aginst the returning bee's thinking that they are being robbed? Thanks', Brad
Bees returning with food will not get attacked.
What time of day is best to do this? Midday? Thank's, Brad
You could also take a frame of brood with the bees on it from the strong hive and put it in the weaker hive for a boost. A frame of bees is easier to move then two full hives.
Moving 2 full hives is many times easier than finding a queen. If you don't find her, Murphy's law guarantees that you will move her to the weak hive and she will be killed.
Quote from: iddee on April 03, 2012, 12:48:04 PM
Moving 2 full hives is many times easier than finding a queen. If you don't find her, Murphy's law guarantees that you will move her to the weak hive and she will be killed.
:lau: :lau:
BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)