Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: homer on April 15, 2009, 09:44:14 PM

Title: Splits and Driftback
Post by: homer on April 15, 2009, 09:44:14 PM
I split a hive that I got a few weeks ago.  When I got it it was 2 deeps chuck full of bees.  Ordered 2 new purvis queens and they were introduced on Monday.  Since then it has been rainy and cold and that has kept the bees inside the hives they were in after the splits.  (I split the one hive into 3)

My question is this... Since the bees have been couped up for the last 3+ days since the split, is there going to be much drift back to the other hive or should they be good to know where their new home is?
Title: Re: Splits and Driftback
Post by: Michael Bush on April 15, 2009, 11:03:06 PM
Being confined by the weather will decrease the amount of drift.  Hard to say by how much.  Normally I figure on 50% drifting back.