Speaking of weak hives.

Yesterday some one called saying they had a laying worker, they saw four to
six eggs in the cells, nothing capped. Generally some one would never open
a hive in March in Maine but it was 67 F the other day. He noticed one hive
wasn't as active so checked them out. He has two hives so he wanted to put
the laying worker hive on top of his strong hive to combine them.  I told
him if it was mine I wouldn't jeopardize the hive that is doing well. I
suggested he shake them out on a cold day but he is going to let them go on
until they dwindle away. I told him to at least take out any honey frames
to save it for making a split later in the season. Any other suggestions?
Should he combine the hives? I have had good results turning around laying
worker hives by giving them a queen cell but no queens cells here in March.
I would get rid of them, boost the strong hive with feeding and make an
early split with a southern purchased queen. I know he will ask six
beekeepers and get 15 answers and be more confused than when he started. He
had to look a picture to confirm he was seeing more than one egg in a cell.
I sent him this link and told him to look at page 55
http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/PDFs/AGRS116.pdf

Karen T-K

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