Well, looks like it is that time again, at least here. Anyone else using the OTS simple method, not only to split, of course, but to disrupt the mite cycle this year?
In case people still are not familiar with the OTS system and the idea behind it to prevent swarming and disrupt the mite cycle, I mention this now because it is around the time to have a plan and implement it if you are, of course, though that depends on area.:
http://www.mdasplitter.com/docs/OTS.pdf (http://www.mdasplitter.com/docs/OTS.pdf)
http://www.mdasplitter.com/docs/FrequentlyAskedQuestions.pdf (http://www.mdasplitter.com/docs/FrequentlyAskedQuestions.pdf)
http://youtu.be/qIYz65Vquxg (http://youtu.be/qIYz65Vquxg)
I am a believer in his methodology. It works fine for me for requeening and making a few queens but our seasons are shorter than his. We just don't know when the water is going to run out and plants quit blooming. When I start those late june/july splits I am taking bees off honey production and have to immediately start force feeding and stimulating to get that nuc big enough to make the winter. Every year I think I am going to get a bunch of nucs ready to winter and the resources to make them are in short supply if you want a honey crop too.
My plan for this year is following this method using 10 of my 20 hives. End of May was the initial date of removing the queens, but April was cold enough to postpone for 2 or 3 weeks. I am also interested for feedback. My main target is honey production and splitting.
Thanks for sharing this information. I am thinking about emplying this method on one of my hives I was planning on splitting anyway. Great information. Thanks. :pop:
My pleasure. figured maybe people might want to get a heads up since it was becoming time to start thinking about such things. Despite things being really cold this winter I didn't lose any hives. not one. and all are fairly strong right now. I will be implementing OTS, very shortly myself, as soon as this current chilly damp snap gets over actually, and implementing phases of it into june. When I am droneless, I implement powdered sugar on a 9 day cycle a few times as well, then rejoin if desired, but it usually is not.
Quote from: ThomasGR on April 30, 2014, 05:20:16 AM
My plan for this year is following this method using 10 of my 20 hives. End of May was the initial date of removing the queens, but April was cold enough to postpone for 2 or 3 weeks. I am also interested for feedback. My main target is honey production and splitting.
I think you have to adjust the timing to meet your weather and flow conditions. I know I pulled the queen out of some strong honey production colonies too long before the main flow and although the bees gathered some honey, they were back raising brood and using most of their income raising brood rather that storing it for me to take when the main flow hit. I do it as much for swarm control and a brood break to help control mites as to boost honey production.
I also like to let those overwintered queens rebuild their colony back up in size if they are up to the job. If they are, they are the ones I want to raise queens from. I don't like this trend toward short lived queens.
Ya, what Vance said, Mel's timing is set for the 43rd parallel. We're supposed to be pulling queens on the first of May (a week behind thank you Arctic vortex), so VA would be about 3 weeks ahead of us. I know Mel works with people to set their split dates. I would email him and pick his brain on it.