I am in southern CA - 3 backyard hives- and it is getting cooler these days. I have a queenless hive I would like to combine with a queen right one. I was planning to use 2 queen excluders AND newspaper because I am concerned about the possibility of a laying worker in the weak queenless hive. I am not too good yet at seeing if that is actually happening but want to take precautions anyway. I hope to lose as few bees as possible so do not want to shake them all out.
If you already have laying workers, just shake the hive then give the resources to the other two hives.
Not sure if I do or not. Still recommend shaking out? How far from the good hive should I do it?
http://www.bushfarms.com/beeslayingworkers.htm