Finsky, thanks a lot for your detailed help. I followed your advice, mostly... :-)
Here is the situation. I live in a suburb of Indianapolis, right next to some strips of forrest, a creek and a large strip of grass and wildflowers that are being kept clear from trees because a gas line runs under it. Great place to have hives. Most people here keep flowers and lawn watered all summer.
My two hives are currently pretty dissimilar. Hive one is strong and bustling with activities. I opened it yesterday and counted about six frames covered with bees in both deep hive boxes. They did so well, I added a green drone frame to the top hive body, just to see how they varroa mite trap works. I also left the super on that still has a few frames with capped honey. I figured that given their current strength they might be getting in the swarm mood if I don't give them work do to in that super.
Hive two is totally different. For a while I thought it was dead, but when I opened it it it had three to four frames of bees in the bottom hive. I took off the second hive body, put a top feeder on, added a pollen patty (actually my partner insisted on that, he's such a softy) and regard it as a starter nuc at this point. Now, I am wondering if I want to add a frame of capped brrod from the strong hive to the weak one... would I move the fram including bees that are on it, or just the capped brood frame? Btw, I saw the queen in the weak hive for the first time. She's a beauty, graceful, golden color. Made my day! :-)
Anyways, thanks for your input and ideas. I love keeping bees and getting more confident with them.
Marc