move a weak hive to where a strong hive is

[jayj200]

can I move a weak hive to where a strong hive is now?

will this create problems?

or would this bolster the weaker hive?

jay

[capt44]

If you place a weak hive near a strong hive you are inviting a robbing situation.
They would need to be monitored closely and have a robbing screen on standby.

[Wolfer]

If you swap locations for the two hives all the field bees will return to the location they came from. This can greatly bolster a weak hive.

Taking a frame of capped brood from the strong hive and putting it in the weak hive also works well. Bees will always take free brood.

I do a frame a week until their where I need them. Rarely more than two frames.

[RHBee]

Jay,
I use that method as one of the ways to equalize my hives.

[jayj200]

thanks to ya all moving a frame is probly easer than a whole hive. yes

jay

did you see my post about death to virroa mites cant seam to include the web page
I think it is cool.
from Canada
so its ok

[nella]

Switching hives dose work to build up the weak hive. I also had a hive being robbed and switched it with a strong hive that was doing the robbing.

[stanisr]

Moving a frame of brood works very well, just be sure and don't move the queen with the brood. Thing get ugly fast.

[GSF]

When you move a frame of brood is it necessary to remove all the house bees before introducing it to the new hive?

[dprater]

Do you shake any of the bees off the frame of brood before added it to the week hive? I've done it a few times but worried about fighting, even sprayed them with sugar water.

Thinking about doing this more this year. Should help keep the brood box open up a little.

dan

[Wolfer]

I don't shake the nurse bees off when adding a frame. As has been said make sure the queen isn't on it.
The nurse bees are all young and the other hive will accept them just fine. Smoke or sugar water spray won't hurt but I rarely do either.

[johng]

No, it's not necessary to shake the attached bees off the frame when you move it over. As the others have said switching locations with hives is  common way to help equalize  hives. Having two good hives is better than having one strong and one weak.