How to Unite Bee Colonies Before Winter: UK Guide
If a healthy colony is too small to overwinter reliably, uniting it with a stronger colony can be safer than trying to carry two weak units through the cold months. September and early autumn are useful times to make that decision while the weather still allows the bees to reorganise their nest.
The decision must begin with health, not simply colony size. Never unite a colony that is weak for an unexplained reason, shows suspicious brood, has deformed bees or may have foulbrood. Combining it could spread disease and mites into a healthy hive. If anything looks abnormal, close the colony and seek advice from your local bee inspector before moving bees or comb.
When should you unite bee colonies before winter?
Consider uniting when one colony is healthy and queen-right but has too few adult bees to form an effective winter cluster. A small colony may struggle to maintain temperature, defend its stores and reach food as winter progresses.
Before deciding, assess:
- the number of frames or seams well covered with bees;
- whether brood is present and has a normal, healthy appearance;
- the queen's laying pattern and age;
- food stores and whether they are accessible to the cluster;
- varroa monitoring results and treatment history;
- any signs of disease, pests or queen failure.
The National Bee Unit stresses that colonies should enter winter populous, queen-right, disease-free and adequately provisioned. The BBKA also advises considering consolidation when a colony is struggling to keep pace with the rest of the apiary.
Do not simply combine two weak colonies
Uniting does not correct a disease problem, and putting two poor colonies together does not automatically make a sound one. Choose a healthy receiving colony with a viable queen and enough bees to benefit from the addition.
If both colonies are weak, identify why before proceeding. Poor stores can be corrected by feeding; excessive varroa needs an appropriate management plan; a failing queen may need replacement. Disease or an unexplained decline requires investigation rather than consolidation.
Choose which queen to keep
Decide which queen is to remain before bringing the colonies together. Base the choice on laying pattern, temperament, age and the performance recorded during the season—not simply which colony is larger.
Find and remove the queen you do not intend to keep. A one-hand queen catcher can help restrain her safely while you complete the operation. Do not leave two queens to settle the matter themselves: the outcome is uncontrolled and the better queen may be lost.
If you cannot confidently find both queens, postpone the unite or seek experienced help. Be particularly careful with a colony that appears queenless, as it may contain a virgin or poorly mated queen that is difficult to spot.
Move the colonies together carefully
If the hives are apart in the same apiary, move the colony you intend to unite in small stages—commonly no more than about three feet per day—until it is beside the receiving colony. This reduces the number of flying bees returning to the old position.
Make sure both entrances face the same direction before the final unite. Work on a calm, reasonably warm day when the bees are flying, and have all equipment ready so the hives are open for as little time as possible.
How to use the newspaper method
The newspaper method slows contact between the two groups of bees while their colony odours blend:
- Place the healthy queen-right colony in the lower brood box.
- Lay a single sheet of ordinary newspaper across the top bars.
- Make only a few small nicks in the paper—do not create a large opening.
- Use a clean queen excluder temporarily to hold the paper in place if required.
- Place the second brood box above the paper and close the hive.
- Leave the colony undisturbed for around a week.
The bees gradually chew through the paper, giving them time to acquire a shared scent. Use only a little cool smoke when necessary. A stocked stainless-steel smoker bundle and a clean rubber-coated hive tool are useful for making the procedure calm and efficient.
What to do one week later
On a suitable day, carry out a brief check. Remove the temporary queen excluder and remaining newspaper. Consolidate the brood into one continuous area, with stores on either side, and reduce unnecessary empty space.
Confirm that the retained queen is present or that there are fresh eggs and a normal brood pattern. Avoid prolonged disturbance: the aim is to leave one compact colony with enough bees, suitable stores and a single good queen.
Continue to monitor weight, varroa levels and entrance activity. If supplementary feeding is still required, feed the united colony according to the weather and its actual stores rather than assuming the additional bees have solved the shortage.
Hagens practical checklist
- Unite only healthy colonies.
- Investigate unexplained weakness before moving bees or comb.
- Choose the queen you want to keep in advance.
- Bring the hives together gradually where necessary.
- Use one sheet of newspaper with only a few small nicks.
- Check after about a week and remove temporary equipment.
- Leave one compact, queen-right colony with adequate stores.
Further guidance is available in the National Bee Unit's Preparing Honey Bee Colonies for Winter fact sheet and the BBKA's October apiary guidance on uniting colonies.