Should I Combine or Feed

[markonsite]

I have a hive from a cutout in a house I did in July. They have 1 1/2 med boxes full of brood/pollen/honey. I also have a second hive from a swarm I got about three weeks ago. They also have 1 1/2 med boxes full of brood/pollen/honey. I have been told that in this part of the country I need three medium boxes to over-winter.
1)Should I combine these hives, or feed them.
2)When does the flow end in the Northeast, is there still enough time for them to make it?
3)If I should combine them what is the best way to do it?

Thanks,
Mark

[JP]

Please post your location so we on the forums can help you in your specific area.

[markonsite]

Sorry, I thought the post would automatically pick up my location. I'm in N.H.

Thanks,
Mark

[JP]

Mark, you have to update your profile and enter your location under location. I'm not sure when your winter starts, someone else near you can answer your question better. If you do a combine, a single sheet of newspaper between the two hives will suffice. The bees will eat through the newspaper and in so doing will acclimate to each other. Now about the queen issue, they will fight it out until you only have one, unless you remove one of them. When do your temperatures start falling below the 50 degree farenheit mark?

[pdmattox]

I would combine them and see what kind of fall flow you get before you feed them. As far as combining, I would just do a newspaper combine.

[Kev]

I'm in a similar situation in Hoosick Falls, NY. One of my nucs decided to requeen in late july. So now I have a relatively strong hive with a laying queen and one with a queen that's only just started laying. We're zone 5 on the USDA map and probably have until Oct before the daytime temps fall regularly below 50 degrees. But we're getting 50 degree and lower nights right now.

Kev

[markonsite]

JP, I'm in the same boat as Kev. We are already getting nights below 50 degrees. If I combine them do I need to give the hive on the top an entrance or do you let them chew through the paper?

Thanks,
Mark

[pdmattox]

just let them chew through the paper. I put the queen rite hive on the bottom if I can.

[Robo]

I'll go against the grain here and say feed them.   If you start feeding them syrup now,  you should have plenty of time to get them heavy.   If needs be,  give them candy on top. 

What are you gaining by combining, except forfeiting a hive right up front.  If you combine them, the remaining hive will downsize to their desired winter cluster size anyway.   So best case, come Spring you have one hive.  If you feed them (and give heat if possible) you could come out with 2 hives in the spring.  Worst case in either scenario is the same.   

I am currently making nucs that I will winter thru on 5 deep frames and I'm in zone 5. I also have 2 more cutouts being lined up now that if things go well I will winter. Search on Finsky and read how he winters.  If he can winter grapefruit size clusters of bees in Finland, there is no reason you can winter your cut outs. 

[TwT]

I think I would feed them also, you should have a couple months before it starts getting cold so if you have the equipment feed and see what happens, if it looks like they aren't going to make it you could combine them later....

[JP]

I like Robo and Ted's thinking, bees can do a lot in a couple of months, if you have that amount of time before it gets too cold, feed them real good, and in the spring they will feed you real good. :)

[markonsite]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I will feed them.

Mark

[Understudy]

Do the newspaper combine.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[Brian D. Bray]

I do not know of any place in the USA (including Alaska) that needs more than 2 deeps (3 mediums) to winter over successfully.  I'm with the feed and let live group.

[Kev]

Wow, I love it when y'all (Brendhan excepted) agree with what I'm doing right now. I'm socking the syrup to them and hoping. My worry is that they won't have enough bees to keep the cluster warm, but then again, I don't really know how many that is.

Thanks again
kev