Beevolk,
 
It appears the Himalayan Blackberry flow has ended within days of the time I
took 5 full supers off my strongest hive and discovered my weakest was a
drone layer.
 
Yesterday, in response to a loud buzzing I looked up to discover that weak
hive surrounded by bees. On closer inspection, hundreds(thousands?) of
corpses littered the landing platforms and surrounding area while individual
struggles continued everywhere. The bald faced hornet(Darth Vader
bee---Vespula Maculata) though outnumbered by thousands of other bees, was
also involved in trying to destroy the hive of my Drone Layer(obviously they
weren't ALL drones or ther'd be no fight eh?).
 
I plugged the ventilation hole in the cap and placed a piece of wood across
the base entrance hoping to give the residents some chance.
 
My question is whether this hive has any chance of surviving or
whether(assuming it still is alive) I should open 'er up and let my 2
healthy hives take the stores and simply do a split from my strongest?
 
Last week I took a frame of very young brood and eggs from my big hive and
introduced it to the brood chamber of this victim hive. Without finding and
killing that drone layer is there any chance the'd raise a healthy Queen anyway?
 
Stuart in Point Roberts, WA.