When doing a split, is it possible to keep the new hive close to the original? Or am I supposed to move it farther away?
~Angie
I try to move them around a bit but they stay in the same yard. It is best to keep some distance between them, if possible.
Quote from: AllenF on June 19, 2011, 11:12:52 PM
It is best to keep some distance between them, if possible.
Why is that Allen? The foragers are going back to the old hive anyway.
When I make splits, I shake an extra frame or two bees in with it to make up for the forager drift back. I have never done the 'move two miles away' thing.
What about a few yards apart? Is that too close?
You can put them up against each other and the foragers will balance out when they return, some going into each half. Or, you can move it 10 feet away and the foragers will return to the original location. Also, after 3 or 4 days, if the population is uneven, just switch places with the two halves and it will balance out.