Your winter and his are miles apart ---- many miles apart. Do they even have winter in Monks Corner :-D
sc-bee-Thanks for the location check. No, I don't have a winter when I compare it to Brainerd MN or just about anywhere up north.
Well I have already done the comb with eggs thing. When I said do nothing I meant let them make their own queen. I am way to cheap to buy a queen and again I feel like combining would be giving up on them. So I think that I will check this weekend to see what is going on. I put the comb of eggs in this past Tuesday. If it doesn't work out I will combine, but if they make a laying queen I will nurse them through the winter in my garage if I have to.
Bush_84- I went back and reread your March 4th thread,
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,40340.0.html. I also checked the weather channel looking at average and record temperatures for your location. Friend, I have no experience that would prepare me for an environment such as yours. That being said, as I see it winter survival is your most challenging task. The information other experienced northern beekeepers gave you in March should be setting your goals now. A good supply of winter bees, enough food stores, a healthy population free of disease and parasites, evaluating hive insulating and proper ventilation- those things would be my goals.
Looking hard at what you have to do to get your bees ready for your brutal winter, That is where I see your at. I know you said that you don't want to purchase a queen but, a proven local queen would go a long way to help you out right now. Just my humble opinion.