Frame exchange

[labradorfarms]

Ok if I have to take a frame of brood and larva from a stronger hive and put it in a weaker one!!!! Do I leave the bees on that frame or smoke them all off before putting them in the weak hive?????

If I need to do this, I don't want the bees from the strong hive killing the queen in the weaker hive... 

[10framer]

most people on here say to drop them right in.  if you decide not to you can just shake them off of the frame instead of trying to smoke them.

[Steel Tiger]

 Most of the bees on a frame of brood will be nurse bees. Their only instinct is to care for eggs and larvae.The chances of them attacking a queen in her own hive is next to zero. The only worry you should have to to be absolutely sure the queen from the donor hive isn't on the frame.

[Vance G]

If it is a frame of capped brood, I shake or brush the bees off.  That way less chance of transferring a queen and the nurse bees aren't needed.  Stealing the brood is enough of a loss.  If it is a frame of wet brood to a declining colony, the nurse bees will be needed to raise a quality queen as the geriatric cases in the troubled colony will be overtaxed and are needed worse as foragers.

[asprince]

You can also strengthen the weaker hive by swapping places with a stronger hive. Do this during mid day. The returning forging bees will return to the weaker hive boosting the population.


Steve

[labradorfarms]

I went today and took a fully drawn frame with brood from the stronger hive today. I transferred in to the weaker hive...
I thing the strong hive will be fine. They have about 5 more frames of fully drawn frames with brood  with them...

With any luck that will help them out. Only time will tell.....