Division and Uniting of Honey Bee Boxes

In beekeeping, dividing and uniting honey bee colonies are essential practices used for managing colony strength, promoting growth, and preventing swarming. Both practices are done to help beekeepers maintain healthy hives and improve honey production. Here’s a detailed explanation of both processes:

1. Division of Honey Bee Boxes (Colony Splitting)

Purpose of Division:

• To prevent swarming by reducing the population of the original colony.
• To increase the number of colonies in the apiary for more honey production or better pollination.
• To rejuvenate a weak colony by splitting it into two, with each having the potential for growth.

When to Divide:

• Spring is the ideal season for dividing colonies, as bees are most active and foraging. This allows both colonies to grow and gather honey.
• Colonies that show signs of overcrowding (e.g., bees clustering outside the hive entrance) or have a large amount of brood (eggs, larvae, and pupae) are candidates for division.
• If a colony is preparing to swarm, it may be divided before the queen leaves with a portion of the colony.

Process of Division:

1. Choose a Strong Colony: Select a healthy, well-established colony with an abundance of bees, brood, and food stores.
2. Prepare New Hive Boxes: Prepare an additional hive box and frames, ensuring that they are clean and ready to receive the new colony.
3. Move Frames: Select frames containing brood, pollen, nectar, and adult bees. Split the brood nest, making sure each new colony has a good mix of these resources.
4. Select a Queen or Queen Cells: If the original colony has a queen, ensure that at least one new colony has her. If the queen is left behind, make sure to provide the other colony with queen cells or a mated queen.
5. Place the New Colony in a Different Location: Relocate the new hive to a distance of at least 2 to 3 kilometers from the original hive to prevent confusion among the bees.
6. Monitor and Manage: Ensure both colonies have enough food and are thriving. Check for queen success in the newly split colony.

Advantages:

• Prevents swarming.
• Increases the number of colonies in the apiary.
• Can help increase honey production as the bees are often more productive after splitting.

2. Uniting of Honey Bee Boxes (Colony Merging)

Purpose of Uniting:

• To strengthen weak colonies by combining them with stronger colonies.
• To prevent the loss of bees when a colony is failing due to disease, lack of a queen, or other factors.
• To consolidate colonies when there are too many hives to manage effectively.

When to Unite:

• When a colony has lost its queen and is unable to produce a new one.
• When there is a very small or weak colony that is unlikely to survive the winter.
• If there is an excess number of colonies in the apiary and you want to reduce the number of hives while maintaining a stronger colony.

Process of Uniting:

Prepare the Colonies: Select the weaker colony (or colonies) that need to be united with a stronger one. Ensure that the stronger colony has a healthy queen and sufficient stores of honey.

Method of Uniting:

• • Newspaper Method (Most Common):
    • Place a layer of newspaper between the two hive boxes (one containing the weak colony and the other the strong one).
    • Poke small holes in the newspaper to allow the scent of the bees to pass through. This scent will help the colonies gradually accept each other.
    • Over time, the bees from both colonies will become accustomed to each other, and the bees will unite as one colony.
  • Direct Merging Method:
    • If the weak colony has a failing queen, remove her before placing the weak colony in the stronger colony’s box.
    • You can combine the colonies directly without newspaper, but ensure that the queen from the weaker colony is not in the mix.

Ensure Proper Ventilation and Food: Provide enough space and food for both colonies to prevent stress. Monitor the newly united colony for signs of aggression, which may indicate problems with queen acceptance.

Monitor Colony Behavior: After uniting, observe the bees for several days to ensure that they are integrating peacefully and that the queen from the stronger colony is accepted. If aggression persists, recheck the method of uniting or consider using other methods like smoke to calm the bees.

Advantages:

• Increases the chances of survival for weak colonies, especially during harsh weather or resource shortages.
• Consolidates resources such as brood, nectar, and pollen into one strong colony.
• Reduces the number of hives to manage in an apiary.