Strengthening a weak hive

[Drone]

Hello,

I understand the procedure to combine 2 hives, but what if you wanted to add frames of bees/brood to strengthen a weak hive?

Would the new hive accept a frame of bees, or would this only cause chaos?

I'm just thinking about this because my neighbor has been telling me about a tree that seems to have thrown 2 small swarms already. Apparently the swarms were only baseball to softball sized. It's hard to beleive such a small swarm can survive.

Just thinking....

Thanks!

[Understudy]

Hello,

I understand the procedure to combine 2 hives, but what if you wanted to add frames of bees/brood to strengthen a weak hive?

You can do that. It is a great way to strengthen a hive.

Would the new hive accept a frame of bees, or would this only cause chaos?

The newly hatch bees ar automatically accepted.

I'm just thinking about this because my neighbor has been telling me about a tree that seems to have thrown 2 small swarms already. Apparently the swarms were only baseball to softball sized. It's hard to beleive such a small swarm can survive.

Just thinking....

Thanks!

You would be amazed. They will probably do fine. Put them in a nuc box. Watch them grow.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[Michael Bush]

A frame of emerging brood is a great way to boost a hive.  They will be out in a few days and they won't know they are adopted.  :)

[Galaxy]

When you take the frame from the hive do you remove all the bees that are clinginging to it.  Or, do you just insert the brood with all the clinging bees in the new hive?  Of course, you would at least want to be sure that the queen is not on the frame.

It would seem that if you left the bees on the frame they would fight withh the bees in the new hive.

James

[lively Bee's]

Nope they wont fight.  If the frame is capped brood you can knock them off the frame. or if it is eggs or larva I transfree adult bees and all so they have the extra help.  I have never seen them fight over adding brood. If I have a weak hive I pull a frame of capped and a frame of eggs to boost the other hive then in about 2 - 2 1/2 weeks they are booming.

[Michael Bush]

>When you take the frame from the hive do you remove all the bees that are clinginging to it.

Usually in a weak hive they won't fight.  In a strong hive they sometimes will.