two queen hive question

[JRS]

I have four hives one is farely new [it was rescued from a wire reel] it's kinda small but good natured.Another hive of mine is very strong but some what mean.Can I combined the two separated by a queen excluder and make a two queen hive,or just kill the mean one and combine the two.

[Michael Bush]

I would kill the mean one and combine the two.

Starting a two queen hive is a bit tricky and going into winter is not the time to do it.  They will just pick a queen and abandon the other one and during winter they may go through the excluder and leave the other behind as well.

[JRS]

I was just wondering,because our winter down here really doesn't start until the end of DEC. and we still have the goldenrod flow coming and it's big where I'm at.

[Michael Bush]

You can try it.  I'd do a newspaper combine on them.

[JRS]

Alrighty,if I just decide to requeen the mean one,I should put them on the feed for a few days before,right?

[TwT]

no, just kill the old mean queen, wait till next morning install new caged queen in the hive and not pull the cork for a few days, then pull cork and let them release her from candy end, do it that way helps with better acceptance rate, works good for me,,, you dont have to feed

[Michael Bush]

If you're in a dearth feeding might put them in a better mood.  If you have a fall flow going on it won't help at all.

[JRS]

OK thanks guys :-D