How to Combine Beehives: A Guide to Beehive Management
Combining hives is an effective strategy for strengthening weaker colonies and increasing their chances of surviving regardless of the time of year. This technique involves merging a weaker hive with a stronger one or combining two weak hives into a single, more resilient colony. The process is typically performed in late fall or late winter and sometimes early spring as an attempt to save hives too weak to survive. By ensuring that your hives are properly managed, you can increase your odds of having a healthier and stronger colony.
In this guide, we will walk you through the steps of combining hives, covering everything from preparing the hives to maintaining their strength. Whether you're a seasoned beekeeper or a beginner, this process will help you optimize your hive management practices and improve the chances of your colony surviving.
- Assess the Hive Conditions Before Combining
Before you begin combining hives, it’s essential to assess the condition of each hive. Beehive management starts with ensuring that each hive is healthy enough to be joined with another. Pay close attention to the following:
Check for Varroa Infestation
Varroa mites are one of the most significant threats to colonies. Before combining hives, you should test for a Varroa mite infestation. A high mite load can weaken the colony and make it difficult for the bees to survive regardless of the circumstances. Make sure there are fewer than 3 mites per 100 bees. Refer to “How to Test for Mites” for detailed instructions on how to check mite levels. If either of the hives has a severe infestation, avoid combining them.
Inspect for Brood Diseases
Ensure that both hives are free of brood diseases such as American foulbrood, European foulbrood, and chalkbrood. Also, be cautious if one hive has had a recent Varroa infestation, as it could still carry harmful viruses. If the weaker hive is infected with brood diseases, it’s best not to combine it with a healthier colony.
Evaluate Hive Strength
The next step in beehive management is to determine the strength of each colony. A hive with three to six frames of bees is generally a good candidate for combining. Hives with fewer than two frames of bees may not have enough strength to survive and should be considered for other purposes, such as being shaken out and the frames stored for future use. The strength of the hive is a critical factor in ensuring that the bees will have enough warmth and food during the colder months—especially if you’re combining them in late winter or early fall. For more on knowing when to give up on a weak hive, see “When Is It Time to Give Up on a Hive?”
- Prepare for Combining the Hives
Once you've assessed the hives and determined that combining is the best option, follow these steps for a successful combination:
Step 1: Remove the Queen from the Weaker Hive
The first step in combining hives is to eliminate the queen from the weaker hive. The reason for this is simple: if both hives retain their queens, the bees will fight over leadership. This could result in the weaker queen being your survivor. If you're unable to find the queen in the weaker hive, it’s okay to proceed with combining the hives and let the queens fight it out. However, this approach can be risky, and it’s not always recommended as it’s a possibility that both queens could be damaged or killed. Removing the queen beforehand will help ensure a smoother transition. For more information, read: "How to Find a Queen When You Can't Find Her"
Step 2: Consolidate the Hive Contents
If the weak hive is in two boxes, gather all the bees, brood, and honey from the weaker hive into a single box. Be sure to place the brood frames in the center of the box and the honey frames on the outer edges. This arrangement mimics the natural behavior of a healthy colony. After consolidating the hive, give the bees some time—about an hour—to settle in and adjust to the new space. This period allows the bees to acclimate to the changes without unnecessary stress.
Step 3: Combine the Hive Boxes
Now that the weaker hive’s contents are consolidated, it’s time to combine the two hives. Stack the stronger hive on top of the weaker hive’s consolidated box. You may need to use three boxes initially, for example, combining a double-deep hive box with a single box. Once the two colonies have settled in and the bees have started working together, you can usually remove the third box after a month or two, once the bees have consolidated and the extra box is empty. This method of stacking ensures that the colony has enough space for all the bees to move freely.
Step 4: Close and Finalize the Hive
Once the hives are stacked, close up the hive securely. Some beekeepers recommend placing a sheet of newspaper between the two hive boxes to help the bees adjust to one another's pheromones. This is an optional step, but it can help reduce fighting. The bees will slowly chew through the newspaper, allowing them to adjust to the new colony more smoothly. However, in practice, simply combining the hives often results in minimal fighting, and only a few bees may be lost.
For an added layer of comfort, you can lightly spray the bees with a sugar syrup mixed with a drop or two of vanilla to help them acclimate. This can also reduce fighting and encourage the bees to bond with one another.
- Monitor and Maintain the Combined Hive
After combining the hives, it's important to monitor the colony’s progress and ensure it has the resources to survive. It is highly recommended to feed combined hives until they rebuild their strength. Feeding Stan’s Soft Sugar Bricks or Global Patties is also a very good insurance policy. Adding Complete to the sugar syrup is also recommended.
Survival Odds
Combining two weak hives provides a much higher chance of survival—about 50%, compared to the lower odds of individual weak hives. This is a substantial improvement and can make the difference between a surviving colony and one that succumbs to the cold or lack of population to provide for the hive.
Periodic Checks
Regularly monitor the hive to ensure that food stores remain consistent. Check for any significant drop in population that might indicate issues and be prepared to reduce the number of hive boxes if necessary. If you notice the colony shrinking, it may be time to adjust the configuration of the hive.
- Consider Buying Bees or Additional Queens
If your hives are weak despite combining, you may need to consider buying bees or purchasing a new queen bee to strengthen your colonies.
By practicing good beehive management and following these steps, you can ensure that your combined hives are strong, healthy, and ready to face the balance of winter or the upcoming spring. With a little preparation and careful management, your bees will be more likely to thrive and emerge strong in the spring.