Feeding and hive combination

[tillie]

I combined two hives yesterday - it's the first time I've done it. 

The hive on top has no access to the outdoors without chewing through the newspaper and joining the others in the bottom box.  Should I prop the top giving them a back entrance, or leave things alone and assume they'll make friends and make their way out?

I was feeding both of these hives before combining.  I removed the feeder bags from both hives (both have stores of honey but were so slow to build - which is both why I ultimately combined them and why I was feeding them before the combo). 

I left the Imrie shim on the top box but removed the feeder bag, figuring when you all tell me to start feeding again, I'm already set up to do so.

Advice needed on :  1.. top entrance or no?
                            2.  When to start feeding again

Linda T confused in Atlanta

[randydrivesabus]

did you make a slit in the newspaper? i've done this without a top entrance with no problem a couple of times already. do you have a queen in the bottom only?

[tillie]

I made slits in the newspaper and I'm pretty sure there's only one queen - the one in the bottom box.  I looked really hard for the queen in the top box and didn't find her - or evidence of her, but they only absconded on Monday and I combined them on Friday night.

Linda T

[randydrivesabus]

and for feeding i would wait until the newspaper is gone which will probably be in just a few days.