How much would you consider a split to be worth in all new equipment.
Gware you need to provide a bit more information. Such as frames of brood per split, number of frames total, etc....
All standard equipment (10 frames) with 3 frames of brood in a single deep with a solid bottom board, SBB optional
New equipment, complete 10 frame hive w/frames and w/SSB $68.50
Wax foundation wired $9.00
3lb swarm of Italian bees $72.00
Total $149.50
This does not include shipping cost.
In my humble opinion your cost for split should be close to this.
With laying queens? $150 sounds good to me. I think new wanna-beekeepers will jump all over that price.
I've seen 5 frame nucs already advertised at $100 for 2009 - that's in YOUR equipment.
Brushy Mountain commercial deep: $13.50.
Brushy Mountain bottom board: $13.75.
Brushy Mountain migratory top: $13.50.
5 extra assembled frames: $11.65
If you acquired these with the free shipping deal from Brushy, you're still looking at over $150 before you figure your cost for assembly, your profit margin on the equipment, and the extra bees. I wouldn't make this split with less than four frames of brood, and I wouldn't take less than $200.
after me thinking about it I think only 2 out of 5 hives will be strong enough because I dont want to split a weak hive and I dont know what kind of spring I will have ( they may not build up well) but I dont want to hurt honey production because this will be my first year getting some honey hopefully because all my hives are first year hives. maybe I should not consider splitting hives and be ready to catch swarms but they could not be many swarms this year who knows.