Only 1 hive made it through Winter but was gangbusters in early Spring.
Found they had swarmed (less bee, 8 open queen cells) a couple of weeks ago. No new queen, no laying. waited...
Yesterday installed 3 new packages with success (hopefully) but found that the old hive had only laying workers but TONS of honey/pollen.
Should I try to re-queen with no local supplier (they've been queenless for weeks already) or should I try to combine them with one of the other hives?
If I combine then, is it too early to use the "shake-out" method and empty the hive a ways away to let some of them fly back to the other newly installed hive?
This is my first year installing packages and I would rather lose the one old hive then disrupt the establishment of the new packages.