Yesterday, after checking my hives I found three queenless nucs. They were all queenright the last time I opened them, about three weeks ago to add pollen patties. These were all hatched queen cells I raised, so maybe those queens didn't survive their mating flights, I don't know. Anyway, all three queenless nucs have a decent number of bees in them, and I'd hate to lose them. It's too late to try to add new queens even if I can find some. So, if possible, I'd like to combine them with queenright nucs or hives. Question, could I/should I even try? If it were earlier in the year, I would just give it a try, because if they killed the queen, I could replace her. At this time of year I'm not sure it's worth the risk. If I were to try a combine, I'd spray them all down with EO syrup. I'd love to add them to the remaining nucs to boost their numbers. Or, should I try adding them to established hives? Or, should I just cut my losses and let them die out? Again, I hate to lose any bees, but I don't want to risk losing the queen this late in the season.  Opinions? Also, I found a nuc that had become a drone layer. Don't know if it's the queen or a drone laying worker, but the nuc is now about half drones, and I am not going to mess around with that one. It's never dull.

By the way, right now I have four good nucs all of which have laying queens and capped brood.

Thanks.

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Bill Greenrose
Claremont, NH
+43.35687 +43° 21’ 25”
-72.3835   -72° 23’ 01”
CWOP: D5065
Weather Underground: KNHCLARE3
HonetBeeNet: NH001

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