I've got a buddy that lost his hive this winter. My hive seems to have survived the winter well, although I haven't inspected the hive. Buying a new package of bees in out of the question for my buddy (Things are a bit tough.), but he can afford to buy a queen. So, having said all that......
I was going to inspect my hive in detail in a few weeks. Assuming that the hive is fairly strong, I'd thought I'd help him out. The thought is to find the frame with my queen and make sure she stays put in my existing hive. I would take a two or three frames with bees and brood from my hive and move them into his empty hive. Prior to this move, he would have placed his new queen in her cage in his empty hive.
We'd completely close off his hive so that the bees could not return to my hive. Provide them food. Hopefully, in a week the girls would be all acquainted with each other and we could remove the covers sealing off his hive. He'd have a hive and ready for another season.
This seems like the proper methodology, if I'm reading my bee keeping books right. Is there anything else I need to do to prevent a failure?
Regards,
Tucker