Splitting and uniting are two of the most used interventions. Both need little equipment but the right approach.

Uniting: the newspaper method

The simplest and most reliable method there is, and the equipment needed is a sheet of newspaper.

• The weak colony is placed above the strong one, with a sheet of newspaper between
• A few small holes are pricked in it
• The bees chew the paper away over several days
• By then the odours have mingled and there is no fighting

Without that delay the colonies fight and many bees are lost.

What must come first

• Remove one queen; otherwise fighting follows anyway and you may lose the better one
• Do not unite without knowing the cause; a weak colony with disease infects the strong one
• Preferably in the late afternoon

Splitting: the equipment

• An empty hive or nuc box
• A queen excluder to prevent the queen going along
• Queen cages to secure her
• A division board in hives holding several units

Division boards

In hives carrying more than one unit, a solid board separates the parts. When uniting at the end of the season that board is replaced with newspaper.

That is the strongest application: two weak units grow into one colony ready for winter, which is better than sending both into winter separately.

When to unite

Uniting a weak colony comes before trying to save it. Two weak colonies wintered separately are usually both lost.

Hygiene

Clean the hive tool between the colonies. Uniting brings two colonies together — if one carries something, the other carries it afterwards.