Combining two frames from the OB Hive.

[Frantz]

Can I combine my two frames from the OB hive by putting them in a super and doing the news paper thing? There are only two frames so can I do that? The two frames are filled with brood and such. My thoughts were, I have my one hive that has developed a case of chaulk brood. I would love to take the two frames from the OB hive, with the good queen that is in there and combine with that hive. They are double deep with good numbers but the queen has slowed way down in her laying and they are just kinda hangin on. The other hive is still booming! So I know that she is just not slowing down for fall. We have a great flow on right now. So anyway, I would like to grab the old queen bring her down into my OB hive for "Observation" and just combine the two frames. Can't think of why I shouldn't it is still plenty warm here so they should be fine????
Let me know.
Frantz
PS There really is a good late flow on here, my stronger hive filled a deep of drawn comb in one week. Two frames are capped and the others are totally full of nector just waiting to be capped. Should I put another one on? Might as well huh, can't hurt.
Thanks all, I love this hobby and you all keep me on track.
:-D :-D :-D

[Michael Bush]

Add one more frame from one more hive and the confusion will be enough to skip the paper.  Actually, you can probably skip it anyway.  Just shake them both into a box and put whatever frames you want them on in with the bees and when they settle down put them in the observation hive.

[Frantz]

If I don't do the newspaper thing, would I run the risk of the other bees balling my good queen? She is a really good queen and I wouldn't want to loose her. If I just shook them in there I am worried that they would just freak. Unfounded? Sure sounds easier to just sugar spray them and drop them in....
Frantz

[Brian D. Bray]

If I don't do the newspaper thing, would I run the risk of the other bees balling my good queen? She is a really good queen and I wouldn't want to loose her. If I just shook them in there I am worried that they would just freak. Unfounded? Sure sounds easier to just sugar spray them and drop them in....
Frantz

Do a Nuc.  Take the 2 frames from your OB hive, add three frames of bees and stores from your other hives (or what you were going to harvest) and You have a nuc that is overwinterable.  The mixture of bees creates confusion for a bit and since all bees on frames inside a hive belong there they won't fight but combine without newspaper.  If you have 3 other hives take 1 frame from each and add it to the bees from the OB.  In the Spring build it up or put it back in the OB.

Add one more frame from one more hive and the confusion will be enough to skip the paper.  Actually, you can probably skip it anyway.  Just shake them both into a box and put whatever frames you want them on in with the bees and when they settle down put them in the observation hive.

See, MB and I agree, more or less....same idea. 

[Frantz]

ok, so I can combine by making some confusion and they shouldn't ball my good queen. I got that part. I don't want to do a nuc just yet though, down here in the east bench area of SLC UT, we still have a good month of flow, and like I said my other hive packed a deep of drawn comb full of honey in one week. So the hive with the chaulk brood is double deep right now with lots of bees, I would like to combine that with the two frames from the OB hive and the good queen.
So I guess from the advice so far, I should take my two frames from the OB hive, and a frame or two from my other strong hive and just switch them in the upper deep? That should create enough confusion that they  will except the new queen and such???
The chaulk brood hive has now been queenless for a day now, so they should be ready for a new ruler right?
My first thoughts were to take an empty deep, add the two OB hive frames and put that all on top of the chaulk brood hive with news paper. My worry was with just two frames from the OB hive in the upper deep if that would cause probs with cold or anything else.
How many days does it take for a combine to take a good hold? 1-2-3?
Thanks for the help,
I figure with a good month of flow this hive should build up nicely for winter, or at least that is my hope. If I could go into winter with two strong hives, I would be happy...
Frantz

[Michael Bush]

You could shake all the bees except the frame with the queen into a box and give them a couple of hours to realize their queenlessness, and then add the frame with the queen.