Combine weak with strong

When combining hives, it is generally recommended to combine a weaker colony with a stronger, queenright colony. The stronger colony is better equipped to defend itself and is more likely to dominate and accept the weaker bees. Attempting to combine two weak colonies may overload the stronger of the two, or result in neither colony benefiting significantly. Combining a weak, queenless hive with a strong, queenright hive is a common scenario. In such cases, the queenless hive is placed on top of the queenright hive (often with newspaper separation), allowing the stronger colony to take over and integrate the weaker bees. This approach maximizes the chances of successful combination and colony strengthening.