I have 2 hives like this with with 2 mediums. I plan on doing a walk away split. The mediums were not what I wanted to do but over the winter they moved up into the mediums and out of the deep. Both medium supers on both hives look like this but was wondering since they were not deep frames, which means less bees, would I still have plenty to do the split.
(http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee291/blackriverreds/DSC_0334.jpg)
Things to consider: brood frames, weather. If lots of capped brood, they are in an expanding mode and will soon have an influx of new recruits. If so and the weather is nice and warm could make some, depending on the type of splits.
Medium nucs?
...JP
QuoteMedium nucs?
Not what I wanted to do actually. Would prefer deeps but as I stated they moved up into the medium supers over the winter. I would prefer they move up into the deep but swarm season is here and I am scared I might lose them. I'm fairly new at this.
.
That hive is not enough big to split.
The halves have real difficulties to build up after splitting
Wait that the hives have at least 4 mediums and then get a laying queen and split even in equal size 2+2 boxes.
Thats not a bad idea then you can put deeps on top of the 2 med and next spring you can get rid of the med.
Quote from: Highlandsfreedom on March 31, 2010, 11:59:42 AM
Thats not a bad idea then you can put deeps on top of the 2 med and next spring you can get rid of the med.
So your saying go ahead now and put deeps on top of them?
myself, I'd wait for more population.
disposal nucs
(http://i900.photobucket.com/albums/ac207/NaturesEconomy/CardBoardNuc-1-n-1-1.jpg)
I have 2 of those currently.
I wasn't sure why you were wanting to split, to expand your number of colonies or for swarm prevention.
On a colony that's in two mediums you could make mini splits to expand but keep in mind you will wind up with that many small colonies.
If you want to build that colony and perhaps even take honey this season, they will have to grow, way too little now.
Remember with all mediums, three or four would be sufficient for brood nests, before you even add supers.
Sounds like the best immediate plan for a strong hive would be to add the deep on top the two mediums and let them expand.
In three to five weeks with good growth you may be able to split then.
...JP
I would like to see them buildup, produce honey, and not swarm if that's possible. Rather split later if I could.
let the hives build up as big as they do. Give more boxes when existing boxes are full.
If you meet queen cells with milk, make a false swarm.
It takes 2 months that that size colony is able to forage real surplus. It means a good start of brooding and 4 -6 medium boxes of bees.
If you now make splits, you will loose the honey yield. You may split hives when the yield season is almost over.
It might be a good time to settle on one size of brood box or the other though.