2 packages in same hive?

[paulsnapp]

In starting a new hive can i shake two packages of bees into the same hive? of course only using one of the queens?

[chux]

The bees in the package were shaken from multiple hives. I have not heard of folks doing what you suggest, but I think it would work (in theory). I'm wondering why you would want to do such a thing. Is it the feeling that one package of bees isn't big enough to grow and produce adequately in the first year? A package is typically 3 pounds of bees. You pay between $100 and $130 for a typical package and queen. So you are looking at paying over $200 for 6 pounds of bees and one queen. Why not spend around $130 on a five frame NUC with an overwintered queen? Or spend about the same for 5 brood frames and a queen from a commercial supplier? Feed em like crazy. If you get a NUC with at least three frames of brood, what have you got? You've got a laying queen, two to three pounds of her bees already working, plus 2 pounds of bees per frame of brood that has yet to hatch.

Depending on what you reason is for wanting the larger volume of bees, I think a NUC would be the better option. If money is not an option, why not throw three packages together? Or four? 

[Oblio13]

I once brought home several packages of bees, and a queen in one of the packages was dead. I did what you are asking about, and not only did it work, but they built up spectacularly quickly. I was mailed a new queen, which I used to make a split from another hive.

[Michael Bush]

Why not start two hives?

[BeeMaster2]

You will bee much better off starting 2 hives than starting one strong hive. If you start 2 and something happens to the queen, you can use brood from the other hive to restore the second hive. If this happens to the single strong hive and you do not know it, real soon you will have no bees.
Jim

[iddee]

Yes you can. Many people are buying 4 lb. packages to get a better start.

[paulsnapp]

I have an extra paid in advance package that i need to do something with. i do nit want to start another hive.  Thought mire bees would jump start the hive i am planning on starting. judt wa not sure if theyvwoukd fightveach other or not.

[iddee]

If it is your only hive, you will regret having only one. There are multiple advantages to having more than one hive
If you have other hives, the combine should work fine.

[Richard M]

Also more than one hive gives you something to compare with; if one hive isn't doing well but the other is, well you'll know that somethings wrong with it. If it's on its own and doing poorly, you wouldn't know it or if you dd, you wouldn't be able to tell if it was just a bad season or something wrong with the hive itself.

You can also "borrow" brood and stores from a thriving hive to jump start one that isn't going as well.

Plus all the other reasons  mentioned above.

[LKBruns]

This past year was my first year.  I am glad I had multiple hives.  I ended up with a really really strong hive.  2 about the same.  1 has been consistently weak.  I also caught a swarm that started as 1 1/2 frames of bees.  I have nursed it along and it is coming through what should have been winter as a very full 2 medium box hive.

All this said to try and explain that if I had just a single hive I would have had no idea what was normal.  I am hoping to keep learning as I am adding a NUC, 3 packages and hoping to split the weak hive this spring,

[PhilK]

Another vote for having two hives. I only started with bees in November and having two hives has been really valuable. One is weaker than the other and I wouldn't have known it was a weak hive if I only had one hive. Have used frames of brood/food from strong hive to supplement weak one etc.

[Acebird]

i do nit want to start another hive. 

My first recommendation is to join a club.  Once you join a club you will have no problem selling the second package and you might be able to help each other.  Like owning two hives from the start except the hives are in different yards.

[Michael Bush]

You can always combine hives later if you end up with too many.  Much easier than losing your one and only and no where to go from there...

[Oblio13]

You will bee much better off starting 2 hives than starting one strong hive. If you start 2 and something happens to the queen, you can use brood from the other hive to restore the second hive. If this happens to the single strong hive and you do not know it, real soon you will have no bees.
Jim

Word.

Years ago I came to the conclusion that I should have at least four hives. That gave me the resources to deal with problems and a good chance of coming through even harsh winters with survivors.

Then I got wiped out by bears, twice.

Now I've decided that I need at least four hives in each of at least three locations.

I think I'm suffering from mission-creep.

[paulsnapp]

i do have other hives.  i was just wanting to know if the bees from 2 packages would fight if combined or not?

[iddee]

No, they will not fight.

[Acebird]

Then I got wiped out by bears, twice...I think I'm suffering from mission-creep.

Have you thought about bear hunting as a hobby?  The two might compliment each other.

[Oblio13]

Then I got wiped out by bears, twice...I think I'm suffering from mission-creep.

Have you thought about bear hunting as a hobby?  The two might compliment each other.

Funny you should mention that. My rug should be back from the taxidermist by September.