Switching hives?

RangerBrad · April 02, 2012, 06:08:08 PM

At my house I have 1 strong hive and one weak hive. The queen in the weak hive is starting to lay good patterns however, there aren't enough bees in that hive (maybe 2-3 frames) to cover the brood. I've read that you can switch hive positions and strengthen a weak hive and take some pressure off an overly strong hive. My question is won't it cause a big fight when the bees come home and there are diffrent bees in a weakened state? Won't the returning bees simply kill the queen and bees in this weakened hive? Hope I'm explaining this right. Thanks' Brad

iddee · April 02, 2012, 06:30:37 PM

No, the foragers will take up with the hive that is in their original home's location.

AllenF · April 02, 2012, 08:27:40 PM

Switching hives is an easy way to build up weak hives.

RangerBrad · April 02, 2012, 09:07:19 PM

Do the bee's that live in the hive not defend it aginst the returning bee's thinking that they are being robbed? Thanks', Brad

AllenF · April 02, 2012, 09:15:00 PM

Bees returning with food will not get attacked.

RangerBrad · April 02, 2012, 09:35:25 PM

What time of day is best to do this? Midday? Thank's, Brad

sterling · April 03, 2012, 12:23:04 PM

You could also take a frame of brood with the bees on it from the strong hive and put it in the weaker hive for a boost. A frame of bees is easier to move then two full hives.

iddee · April 03, 2012, 12:48:04 PM

Moving 2 full hives is many times easier than finding a queen. If you don't find her, Murphy's law guarantees that you will move her to the weak hive and she will be killed.

Jim134 · April 04, 2012, 07:15:58 AM

Quote from: iddee on April 03, 2012, 12:48:04 PM
Moving 2 full hives is many times easier than finding a queen. If you don't find her, Murphy's law guarantees that you will move her to the weak hive and she will be killed.

:lau: :lau:

BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)