Order queen or combine?

[derrick1p1]

Just checked hive #3.  They are queenless. Suspected this might be, they tried to rear their own queen, but should have been laying by at least 2 weeks ago.  No eggs or brood.  No laying workers.  Plenty of stores/pollen, numbers are good. 

I gave them eggs,brood from another strong hive.  Should I order a queen this late in the fall, or should I combine.  First frost doesn't occur here until late Oct. or mid November.  Too late to try and rear another on their own I think.

Thanks for any advice you may have.

Derrick

[Bill W.]

I like to combine if I have any doubts.  They'll be stronger for the Winter and you can split them again in the Spring.