I am looking to make some splits this year. I currently have 5 hives. 4 of them are new colonies this year from 4lb packages and they are all doing well. The 5th hive was a new hive last year that I made from a split so the queen is 1 year old in that hive.
My plan/hope is to get up to 10 hives this year. I am planning on making splits with fresh eggs and letting the bees make their own queen. I did this last year and had sucess with the method. My questions are below:
1.) Am I too optimistic to make a split of a hive that was just started this spring? (I assume not because I have had a swarm my first year of beekeeping from a new colony but I thought I would ask.)
2.) When is the best time to do this operation in New England (Massachusetts)? I was planning on doing the splits around mid June. I recently read an article in Bee Culture saying that making splits around early July is best but I am really unsure of the best time. I could use some help on this one.
3.) Any other thoughts/concerns/advise?
Thanks fellow beekeepers!
>1.) Am I too optimistic to make a split of a hive that was just started this spring? (I assume not because I have had a swarm my first year of beekeeping from a new colony but I thought I would ask.)
That depends on the bees. If they build up strong enough you might get several splits. If they don't you won't get any.
http://www.bushfarms.com/beessplits.htm#earlysplit
>2.) When is the best time to do this operation in New England (Massachusetts)? I was planning on doing the splits around mid June.
I recently read an article in Bee Culture saying that making splits around early July is best but I am really unsure of the best time. I could use some help on this one.
http://www.bushfarms.com/beessplits.htm#earlysplit
>3.) Any other thoughts/concerns/advise?
http://www.bushfarms.com/beessplits.htm