How many split to a 5 frame vs an 8 or ten frame? Preferences and why?
Quote from: sc-bee on March 25, 2014, 12:43:37 PM
How many split to a 5 frame vs an 8 or ten frame? Preferences and why?
From a strong hive, I usually try to split it in half, 1 medium deep to one hive and the second medium deep to the other. Move the old queen to the new location and give her a little extra drawn comb to build on. I also reverse the direction of the box to reorient the old bees.
Jim
right now i split to a 5 frame because i want to leave a strong hive in a brood break going into the flow. after the flow i may do equal splits or i may split 2 nucs depending on a lot of things. equipment available, strength of the hive, queens or at least drones available, stores, how much i want to feed.......you get the idea. i brought a few 5 frame nucs through the winter this year and i've converted a couple to ten frame and i'm getting ready to either super them or use them to start up my queen rearing nucs.
If in SHB country, split off a full box, whatever size.
IE: Don't put a 5 frame split in a 10 frame hive with 5 empty frames. Too much empty space to guard.