How to combine 2 weak hives in different kinds of boxes

[Abc Farms]

I corrected this....I had typed layers hive and should have been a layens frame swarm box which is for a horizontal hive. The newspaper method won?t work because of the difference in the size of the boxes and frames. We just weren?t sure if spraying them with sugar water and then shaking the smaller of the two in front of the other one may work or what would be the best to do. These are two of our first colonies and we don?t have access to more equipment for a few days until we can get to Dadant and we didn?t want to wait that long to combine them. The original text was.....We have a colony in a 10 frame that is weak and we have a queen less ?swarm? that is in a layens type swarm box. It is a small swarm and we are wanting to combine the two but not sure the best way to do it. Any help appreciated!

[Donovan J]

Is the other one in a 8 frame? If so just get another 8 frame and put brood frames and frames with the most honey in and slap it on top. Probably dispatch the queen in the 10 frame before so there's no fighting. Put paper in between the boxes for a slow release.

[cao]

Welcome  .

I am not familiar with a layers type swarm box. Does it have frames in it?  If the boxes are not compatible to do a newspaper combine, just add another 10 frame box and put the frames in it.  Or worst case scenario, smoke them well and just dump them together.

[TheHoneyPump]

What is a layers type swarm box.  Please describe or post pictures.  Then we can hopefully provide the best advice. 

[Acebird]

How long has the hive been queenless?  Assuming there is no disease in the queenless hive I might just scratch all the honey and leave the hive open.  I would be reluctant to dump in the bees.

[jtcmedic]

I think Layens hivehttps://horizontalhive.com/honey-bee-images/layens-7-hive.jpg

[TheHoneyPump]

The best route to take is:  Pick which box type you are going to use going forward forevermore.  Put the queen on a frame in that box.  Put a sheet down in front leading up to the box entrance. Have a spray bottle of sugar water at the ready. Shake all the bees from both boxes onto the sheet near the entrance.  Lightly spray the bees as they walk in. When they are all in, cleanup and walk away.  Leave them alone for 2 weeks. Then go do your first inspection. In the meantime get rid of (sell/give) the other box. Replace it with your chosen standard equipment.

[van from Arkansas]

ABC, first time I have seen a Layens 7 frame.  Kind of a cool looking hive.

To be on the safe side, I would place the queen in a queen cage as if introducing a new queen.  Then check for acceptance.

I am more conservative than most beeks regarding honeybees.  I am a hobbyists bee keeper.  I believe most beeks would do as HP suggest.

Another way: looking at the Layen, one could cut plywood or corrugated plastic panel and place the Layen on top of a typical Langstroth with the plywood in between the two hives.  Then cut the plywood to create an opening between the Langstroth and Layen.  Then place newspaper for a combine.  The Layen would have to be the top section with the larger Langstrof  on bottom.  Did I make this clear?

See pic, the plywood is cut for a newspaper combine of a 5 frame nuc to a 10 frame Langstrof.

[attachment=0][/attachment]

Van

[jalentour]

Van is correct.
Easy is best.

[TheHoneyPump]

If the end goal is to have all the bees in one of the two styles of boxes, the bees will have to be evicted (shaken) out of one of them.