Beekeeping - A multiple Source of Income, Chatha, Jammu

Uniting Bee Colonies

Introduction

Weak colonies are of no or little value. They may not overwinter successfully or such colonies in spring may not reach the desired strength. Therefore, such weak colonies should be united. Colonies are united to make a strong healthy colony from two (or more) weak colonies, or one weak and one strong colony, according to the needs of the beekeeper. Uniting the pheromones of two weak colonies results in the development over time of a new and single pheromone for the united, strong, and healthy colony.

The reasons for uniting colonies include the following

Weaker colonies: uniting weak colonies results in a single strong colony.
Queenless colony or weak queen: If the colony doesn't have a queen, and no possibility of producing a new queen (no fertilized eggs or queen cells in the colony), the queenless colony should be united with a colony with a good queen (a 'queen-right colony').
Worker laying: Sometimes worker bees may lay eggs if the time without fertilized eggs or a queen is too long. The laying workers should be removed as soon as they start egg laying and the remainder of the bees united with a queen-right colony.
Inability of the queen to lay fertilized eggs: Occasionally a queen may not lay, or may lay only unfertilized eggs which become drones. This can happen under unfavourable weather conditions or when the colony has an emergency queen. Under such circumstances, the non-performing queen can be removed and the colony united with a queen-right colony.
Increasing honey production: Two or more colonies can be united at the onset of the honey flow season to increase colony strength and maximize honey production.

Points to Consider

All the foragers should have returned to the hive before colonies are united, thus it is best to unite them in the evening.
One of the colonies selected for uniting should be made queenless before uniting it with a queen-right colony.
Be careful not to lose bees from the queenless weaker colony while placing the hive on the paper barrier on top of the brood chamber of the strong queen containing colony.
Remove any laying workers from the queenless or weak colony.
The paper placed between the two colonies should be perforated but able to prevent bees from passing through.
A diseased colony should not be united with a healthy colony unless fully treated and recovered.

Uniting Colonies

Preparation

Identify the colonies to be united.
Bring distantly placed colonies closer before uniting. A weak colony can be brought close to the stronger, queen-right colony by moving at a rate of about 2 feet (60 cm) per day.
Feed the colonies continuously with sugar syrup for 3 days before uniting if food stores are insufficient.
Remove the queen of the weaker colony 24 to 48 hours prior to uniting.
Remove all the empty combs and super/s from the colonies to be united during daytime.
If laying workers need to be removed, the colony should be taken about 200 m away from its existing location and all the bees shaken off the comb before the hive is replaced in its original location. Only the bees that return to the original location should be united.
Remove combs with worker eggs from worker laying colonies before uniting.

Method

The paper barrier method is the safest way of uniting colonies. A perforated paper is placed between the two hives (colonies) to be united. This allows mixing of the pheromones of the two colonies, resulting in a single united colony. Always unite the weak colony with the strong colony, not the strong with the weak.

The steps are as follows:

The colonies to be united should already have been moved close to each other.
Give a light puff of smoke at the entrances of the colonies.
Remove the (outer and inner covers) of the queen-right (strong) colony and place a perforated paper over the frames to fully cover the brood chamber.
Spread honey or 2:1 sugar syrup lightly on the paper.
Remove the bottom board of the queenless colony and place the hive on the perforated paper on top of the brood chamber of the queen-right colony. (The smoke will have encouraged the bees to withdraw to the combs so that there are no bees left on the bottom board.)

Management

Honeybees from the colonies are united when the pheromones of the two colonies are thoroughly mixed by diffusion through the perforated paper. The bees will chew the paper from both sides; it will disintegrate within 48 hours and the bees will mix. The hive should then be opened and the bees and frames from the upper chamber transferred to the lower chamber so that all the bees are in one chamber. The united colony should be fed with artificial food for 3 days after removing the paper. If required, a super can be added after some days once the brood chamber is full and the united colony fully active, particularly during the honey flow season.