Paper combining

[DuaneB]

When doing a paper combine, does it have to be queenless on top of queenright? Or does it really matter?

Thanks.

[Jacobs]

I don't know if it matters, but I prefer to have the queenright on the bottom and open for flight. I put the queenless super(s) above it with several slices in the newspaper and the top entrance closed. The queenless bees have to go through the newspaper to get out. This has worked well for me and is usually combined in 24-48 hours.

[reedyfork]

I followed this same method to combine two swarms this spring (one of the swarms ended up having no queen). This was my first combine, and it went surprisingly smooth!

[DuaneB]

I've done it that way before (queenless on top), with good success. Its just that the queenright hive is a nuc and the queenless is a 10-frame. The queenright hive is strong enough I can put it in a 10-frame. So I'll put them in the 10 frame for a day, then put the queenless on top using paper combine method.

Was just a curiosity question.

Thanks.