from two to one

So today I got out to the hive again and reduced the three deep hives to two.  I looked at each frame and put ones that had brood or eggs in them to the bottom box.  In the top box, I added all the frames that had honey or comb.  That way, with comb on the frames, there will be less work for the bees to do.  They won't need to make comb.

I don't know how it'll all work out.  We shall see.

I did look into Hive #1, that should be empty but there were bees still in there so I left it alone.  I thought I saw eggs in there so now I question if there's still a queen in there...or if there's a queen in Hive #2 for that matter. 

I'm doubting everything at this moment.  I basically want the summer to end and see what the spring brings.  But between now and then, perhaps they'll make enough brood to increase their numbers.

There seemed to be a decent quantity of honey in Hive #2 and if they keep producing, there should be enough for the winter.  IF there's still a queen in there.

For two nights, I watched the hive and didn't see bees bringing in pollen.  I could have missed them or maybe the queens killed each other off.  I really don't know.  Time will tell.