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Thank you everyone!

Thank you all. After considering everyone's generous advice this is the plan at the moment. Leave hive 1 alone - maybe later on take a frame of bias to make a nuc if they don't make swarm preparations. Shake out hive 2. The number of bees suggests that the queen, if she's there has not been...

First inspection April 28 - colony 2 was broodless. I couldn't see the queen. Assuming they were queenless I gave them a frame of eggs about a week later just to be sure. They didn't build queencells, but I still haven't seen the queen.

Thank you again. I agree - 3 (productive!) hives are ideal for me and that's what I'm aiming for. I'm a bit wary of taking another frame from colony 1 to give to colony 2 as they ignored the last one and they are old bees. Also I'm worried about colony 3's temperament - they are near a public...

Had a look in the nuc box - this is what yes, that would have been sensible I know. Sometimes I make rash decisions when inspecting the hives! I did think however of buying in a queen, but would prefer to get a local one ( too early)rather than imported. But perhaps I'm being too pedantic here...

About 2 or 3 frames like this. Forgot about the polished cells sorry! Also nectar coming in. Bottom box empty aprt from 1 frame with small amount of pollen and nectar.

Yes they were capped. So by now queens should have emerged.I wish now that I'd thought of uniting with my best (but not great ) colony and removed the cells. Hindsight is so great! Thank you again.

Will do this afternoon. Thank you!

I would appreciate your help in trying to solve this! I have 3 hives 1. QR on brood and a half. 5 frames of brood bottom box, 4 top shallow frames.The queen is 4 this season ( if not superceded end of season) 2. Weak colony on single brood . I think the queen was probably superceded end of last...

Thank you all for your suggestions! Who knows, it might be sunny and calm! If not, I can keep them safe till wednesday.

wind and rain

I'm expecting 2 new queens tomorrow ( post permitting ). The weather forecast for tomorrow is atrocious, much better on Wednesday. I know about giving them some water, but where should I put them overnight in their cages? Warm kitchen in a box? Hopefully then on Wednesday one would be introduced...

I have the same problem. I find it helps to cover supers when you remove them to inspect the brood box, then using cloths on both ends of the brood box and moving them as you go to give access to 1 frame at a time.

Definitely something to remember next time! Thank you!

Ok - thanks again!

I agree. I had no problems for the first 4 seasons. Last year they were not so pleasant to inspect but not attacking passers by. This year - I dread opening this this hive in particular, and this week was so worried that they might sting people. The weather has not been good after Thursday so...

Can I ask why you suggest requeening both boxes rather than requeening after combining? I was hoping for a reasonable summer honey harvest from them - on a new, safe site. Also, I did have other plans for the second new queen - but need to choose the most sensible option so totally flexible really.

I extracted a full super from the queenless box yesterday and returned it for cleaning! They also have another nearly full uncapped super. As the numbers in the box will be diminishing when all brood has emerged I suppose I need to remove them?

Great idea - will do! I have three supers that were extracted yesterday. Thank you again!

I know of a safe site for both boxes. Only problem - it's only about 500 yards away from original site! Not ideal I know. Would it work if we moved them late evening then closed the entrance for 24 hours. Forecast not too warm here next few days. Any returning bees would be shaken back in front...