Question on trying to save a hive

[harvey]

Hello all,  I have a hive that has been queenless for 7 weeks.  Still lots of bee's but absoulutely no brood.  They are still building queen cups although nothing to be laid in them.  I have two packages that I hived 1 week ago.  They seem to be doing really well drawing out comb and all.  I have not seen eggs yet though.  I would really like to save the queenless hive and have made calls to Dadent and Kelly with no luck until at least the eleventh of may to obtain a queen.  Could I steel a fresh comb with eggs in it from one of the packages to give to this hive?   I know it would set the package back but it should still make it right?  Or should I just let the hive go and hope for swarms in my swarm traps?

[iddee]

A hive with no bees less than 7 weeks old? I would shake them out on the ground 100 feet in front of the new hives and let them find a home. From eggs, you are talking 7 more weeks before the first new bee emerges. That put your youngest bees at 14 weeks. I don't think it is feasible.

[Kathyp]

ditto iddee.  it will strengthen your packages and you can try for a split later.  it's hard to let one go, but this way you know the bees have a home and did not just die off.  i'm also guessing that your queenless hive has lots of honey stored?  you can use that on your new hives also.  nothing is wasted  :-)

one more thing...don't leave that old hive out.  if you do, they may drift back to it. 

[harvey]

K,  I will shake them out,  If I don't do something they are going to die wasted,  I really don't want that.  The two new packages are doing really well.  Won't hurt to boost their numbers.  No as far as shaking them out?   Do I just kinda bump them off the frames a ways away from the other two hives?   Will they be accepted?   and how will they even know where the other hives are?   Yes Kathy there is a lot of honey in that hive.  Only thing they have been doing I guess.

[Kathyp]

the honey is typical in queenless hives.  they have no brood to care for.  if the other hives are where the old hive was, they will fly back there and when they do not find their  home, they will  join the others.
i find it convenient to carry the hive i am dumping away from the others.  it seems to be easier to empty that way.  you can brush the bees off the comb, or tap them off.  i recommend covering the hive between each frame you are clearing and putting the cleared frame in a spare and covered hive.  it will speed things up.  if you dump them in front of the other hives, that's fine also.  again, cover the hive you are working with and take it away when you are done.

[harvey]

Thanks Kathy, I'll give it a try tomorrow if it is not raining.