Many beekeepers are forced to organize bees in the fall. This procedure is considered familiar and inevitable in almost every apiary. Usually by the end of summer there are one or more weak colonies that will not survive the winter. In such a situation, there is a need to unite families. This helps increase productivity during honey harvesting. This procedure can be carried out in different ways.
Goals of the association
From the beginning of spring until the arrival of autumn, beekeepers monitor the condition of the apiary.If the bee colony has survived the winter and there are at least 6 frames and brood in the colony, we are talking about a composition of medium strength. Thanks to the presence of a reproductive queen, the swarm will be able to grow stronger. In addition, its composition will increase. As a result, a strong family will go to winter.
At the same time, weak bee colonies will not have time to raise a sufficient number of young individuals by the arrival of autumn that can successfully survive the winter. If the bees stop taking bribes in favor of heating the babies, the queen bee will stop laying. At the same time, worker bees will begin to collect honey. In such a situation, by the end of autumn there will be a lot of product, but few insects. Such a family will not be able to survive the winter.
Thus, the main task of the autumn unification of families is considered to be to increase their numbers. To strengthen the nest, you need to combine several weak compounds into one. This will help increase productivity during the honey harvest period. Such an apiary will become profitable and will generate income for the beekeeper.
If there is a queenless bee colony on the farm, it must be combined with a full-fledged colony. If there are no queen cells on the brood or the young queen appeared too late and could not be fertilized by the beginning of September, honey collection stops. If measures are not taken in time, such a family will not be able to survive the winter.
Necessary conditions and terms
The timing of the merger depends on the reason for this procedure. If her goal is to create a family for a good harvest, it is necessary to connect the colonies before the main honey collection. In order for bees to easily survive the winter, it is recommended to unite families in September.
The feasibility of this procedure is determined by analyzing the condition of the colony. Promising bee colonies meet the following characteristics:
- no symptoms of infection;
- there is a fertilized uterus, which has excellent egg-laying capabilities;
- the amount of sealed honey meets the standards;
- there are a sufficient number of bees.
If one or more problems were identified during the examination, families need to be adjusted. Otherwise, there is a high probability of colonies dying in winter. Even if this does not happen, the swarm will be incapacitated in the spring.
Possible methods
There are many methods for uniting bee colonies. This allows each beekeeper to choose the most suitable option for himself. It is important to carry out this procedure in good weather, when the drones fly away for nectar.
With feeding
To unite bee colonies in this way, it is important to carry out preparatory work. A honeycomb with honey must be placed on the weak club. They should be a third or half full. After a couple of weeks, fertilizing needs to be done again. This will help make the insects less aggressive. In total, perform 2-3 feedings.
Through the partition
This method of connecting bee colonies requires certain skills from the beekeeper. A hive with a weak family should be gradually moved to a strong one - 1-2 meters in 3 days. Then it needs to be installed on an open hive of a strong family.
First, you need to place a partition made of any wood between the houses. After 3 days, the insects adapt to the smell of another family.At this stage, the partition can be removed. It is recommended to do this in the evening.
Through the newspaper
This method is used quite often in beekeeping. It is used when the main part of the honey plants has finished blooming, usually in the middle or end of September. To unite bee colonies in this way, you need to do the following:
- Gradually move the hive in which the relocated family is located.
- Remove the queen from a weak colony. This is done 5 hours before unification.
- Treat the nests with an aromatic mixture. You can add medicine to prevent varroatosis.
- Place a newspaper on the frame of a strong family.
- Place a housing with a weak colony on top.
The insects will gradually chew through the paper and take its remains out of the hive. The time spent working together will be enough to adapt to the neighborhood.
Spraying
To improve the association of insects, it is recommended to sprinkle the honeycombs with liquid sugar syrup. It is recommended to add odorous substances to it. After combining, the bees begin to actively lick the mass from each other. Thanks to this, their smells mix, which helps reduce the level of aggression towards strangers.
Through the gangway
To connect bee colonies in this way, it is recommended to move the insect homes towards each other. In this case, they need to be gradually turned over. For a hive with a strong family, you need to place a small piece of plywood at an angle. At the same time, he must reach the last cell. Before relocation, the wombs of the weakest must be removed. Moreover, it needs to be preserved.
When flying, you need to have time to spray the insects on the gangplank with a sweet sugar and aromatic solution. Thanks to this, both houses will acquire the same smell. If there are bees left in the hive, they need to be shaken off onto the gangway. As a result, they will move to the new house themselves. At the same time, insects cannot be rushed. This will cause them to leave the apiary.
Basic Precautions
For the procedure to be successful, it is important to follow these rules:
- add a weak swarm to a strong one;
- a sick family should not be united with a healthy one, so as not to spread infections;
- Individuals of different breeds cannot be housed in one house;
- It is forbidden to combine peaceful bees with aggressive ones;
- when choosing a queen, you need to give preference to a more productive individual - she needs to be placed under a hood for several days;
- work should be carried out in the evening - tired worker bees will accept strangers more calmly.
The colony that is planned to be housed must be well-fed. This will prevent the host family from considering new bees as thieves.
Tips and tricks
In order for the unification of families to lead to the desired results, you should adhere to the following rules:
- it is better to place families in a new odorless hive - this will help to carry out the procedure peacefully;
- in the new family it is necessary to leave only one queen;
- The procedure should be carried out in warm and dry weather;
- It is not recommended to combine representatives of different breeds.
The autumn association of bees is considered a difficult procedure. However, quite often situations arise when it is impossible to do without it. For the manipulation to be successful, it is important to choose the right method for its implementation. Following the recommendations of experienced beekeepers is also of great importance.
