How to Merge Bee Hives

Place lavender oil in the two hives that you wish to merge at least 48 hours prior to moving. This will allow the bees to become familiar with the scent of the new bees and they will be less aggressive.

Remove the weaker of the two queen bees from the hives 24 hours prior to merging the colonies. This prepares the colony without a queen for the acceptance of the new queen and helps avoid fighting between the bees.

Smoke both bee hives in order to placate the bees and make them receptive to merging.

Carry the colony without a queen to the established hive at night when all of the bees are in their hives. Be sure to move the colony about 2 miles away from the old site so the bees can not fly back in an attempt to re-establish the hive.

Open the top of the hive and cover it with white paper or newspaper. Shake the smoked bees from the weaker hive on to the paper or shake the bees into a frame and place the frame on top of the new hive. Cover the hive and allow the bees from both colonies to chew through the paper and integrate into one colony.

Smoke the bees in the single hive to ensure that fighting does not occur. In the morning, check the entrance to the hive for dead bees. If you find bodies, smoke the hive again. If the entrance is clear of bodies, the hive has peacefully merged.