Combining hives

[Potlicker1]

Can anyone tell me when the appropriate time is to join 2 hives together. We're in late July already and I have one pretty weak colony out of my three and i'm thinking I should add them to an exsisting one. They have begun building numbers up sopmewhat but i'm concerned about having a good amount for overwintering , not necessarilly getting honey this year. I don't want to do it to soon and drop to 2 colonys but I don't want to wait and lose them. What do you think?
GO BEES

[Michael Bush]

It's a judgment call.  If they are both queenright and rearing brood, they should be able to build up more and maybe they will build up enough to overwinter.  If either is dwindling and failing, combining might be a good idea or just let the dying one die rather than stress out the strong one.

[Potlicker1]

Thanks, I think i'll just give them some time yet. See if they can work it out and grow.

[Bennettoid]

Feed, Feed, Feed.

[Brian D. Bray]

Feeding is not the cure for everything.  In this case I would add a frame of brood to give the struggling hive a population boost.  It will strengthen them a bit and give them a better chance to make enough stores for winter.  If you have 2 strong hives taking a frame of brood & bees from each and adding it to the weak hive is even better.  You are essentially treating the weak hive like a nuc or split and any future action should reflect that status.