Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => HONEYBEE REMOVAL => Topic started by: Grandma_DOG on September 24, 2009, 11:06:32 PM

Title: How to Split a big cutout?
Post by: Grandma_DOG on September 24, 2009, 11:06:32 PM
Say a cutout is 2 deeps.

Do you put it in the two deeps, then wait a few weeks for them to recover before you split.

Or do you split the two deeps the day of the cutout?

-mt
Title: Re: How to Split a big cutout?
Post by: JP on September 24, 2009, 11:53:07 PM
I don't know if there's really a wrong either way, but I usually make the split within a day or two, but I've always given the split a queen.


...JP
Title: Re: How to Split a big cutout?
Post by: iddee on September 24, 2009, 11:58:45 PM
This time of year, I wouldn't split it. I would leave it as a double until spring.
Title: Re: How to Split a big cutout?
Post by: Grandma_DOG on September 25, 2009, 01:54:27 PM
Quote from: iddee on September 24, 2009, 11:58:45 PM
This time of year, I wouldn't split it. I would leave it as a double until spring.

Well, I'm in central Texas, 85 degrees out. Our 2nd minor  honeyflow (aster & goldenrod) is about to start, so they could pile up some stores.

Still think I should wait?
Title: Re: How to Split a big cutout?
Post by: iddee on September 25, 2009, 03:48:44 PM
Any where north of the equator, the queens are reducing their laying and the workers are reducing their wax production. This will continue until winter solstice, approx. Dec. 20. After that, they will begin spring activity, starting at the equator and working north. Texas will start before NC, which is mid Jan, to beginning Feb., but not by much. The bees produced for wintering are not the same bees as produced for summer. Their entire make up is different.

Yes, I would still wait.