uniting the hives

[mat]

I red that you can unite two families with news paper without removing one of the queens. The queens will fight, and stronger will stay. Is there a risk of losing both of them, or that the winer will be so exhausted or injured that would be worse than the loser?

[leominsterbeeman]

Mat -

You should remove one. Kill her and leave the body behind. Pretty sad.  Or just take her two miles away and set her free.

You can do this as you have described, but the risk is higher that you may  result in injured queen remaining or two dead queens.  This is an OK method when one of the queens is atleast two years older that the one you want to succeed, because the younger queen will have a stronger pheramone.

If you can, but your most vibrant, healthiest queen on top (Or above the newspapers)  the newspapers should be sliced with a razor blade to allow the scents to mingle.

[Michael Bush]

>I red that you can unite two families with news paper without removing one of the queens.

You can.

>The queens will fight, and stronger will stay.

Correct.

>Is there a risk of losing both of them, or that the winer will be so exhausted or injured that would be worse than the loser?

It is possible that they both could get killed.  It's more likely that one will survive.  It makes sense to pick the queen YOU want and remove the one you like less to insure you get the genetics you want.

[mat]

Thank you. Fortunately both are marked so shouldn't have problems finding them. I hate to kill one, so I rather take one and let go far away.

[Michael Bush]

She'll die of cold or starvation if you do that.  Why not drop her in a jar of alcohol and give her a swift but useful end when you use it as swarm lure?

[mat]

I think you're right Micheal, thanks.

[bristopen]

That's exactly what I was looking for!

Thank you everyone!