Gordon N. Stowe wrote:
>
 
> The question I have is can I sucessfully place the old hive on top of the new
> hive and in that way save the old existing workforce.  Or would I be
> better to just let the old one die out or possibly dump the old bees on
> the ground outside the new hive and it they go in and are accepted so
> much the better.  I am concerned about just placing the old hive on the
> new in case the old hive workers want to do in the new hive's queen.
>
> I'd appreciate any suggestions.
>
> Gordon S.
 
I would have installed the new nuc on top of the old colony separated by a screen board.  After a
week or so I would have replaced the screen with a queen excluder for a while.  When there is
emerging brood remove the excluder.  If the nuc is already installed it would probably take a
second nuc, or move both colonies a couple miles away and combine as described.
 
-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -
"Test everything.  Hold on to the good."  (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
 
Tom Elliott
Eagle River, Alaska
U.S.A.
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