Hive check Jan 12

Checked the hives yesterday it was a little warmer in the high 30's maybe even 40. I took off the mouse gaurd and swept out a small amount of dead bees in my weak hive and a paper plate full from my stronger hive. I took them inside to inspect them for mites. I found several mites and about 13 bees with the damaged wings and around 12 to 15 small hive beetles. I am going to regress my bees down to 4.9 as soon as the spring hits if they survive. I do not intend to get any honey from them this next season but I do intend on getting them as strong as possible. I may even combine the 2 if need be. I have been offered some free bee stuff from a guy I grew up around, it was in his family,Aunt's husband who passed recently. He told me that he had alot of bee hives and different equipment, alot of it was handmade. It is local and I need all the help I can get. I'll post some pictures later after I get it all home.