Just in my little operation I shoot to keep about 20 to 25 colonies going
into my central va winter, that means expanding in the spring and summer
and then come august or September depending on season and camping... I
inspect every hive and while doing so comparing to each other as I go, I
also look for under performing hives based on population and laying
pattern. I Mark each hive quickly with "good queen bad bees" or "bad queen
good bees" , GQBB OR BQGB. this allows me to know at the end which to kill
the queen and which to keep the queen and combine etc... there is always
under performers in the crowd... they get down sized as I have learned I
don't like wasting money and time... it's like trying to feed up a stunted
piglet someone gave you... almost always will under preform and cost alot
of time and money...

Squish the queen and move on... bad laying pattern or low population...
death sentence.... gavel down... case closed...

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