Quick question
When is the best time to split
In central Florida have a 10 frame 9 frames solid comb 6 Capped brood (eggs at multiple stages also) no drones seen / have drone cells capped on edge but none hatched in hive. I want to split but don't want to rush it , any input welcome, I am confused on the when to sign, no queen cells only 3 empty cups
Are you going to buy a queen or let them raise their own?
Are you going to try to get honey and split, or just split and let them keep their honey for winter?
Quote from: iddee on March 07, 2017, 05:09:01 PM
Are you going to buy a queen or let them raise their own? Was planning on letting them raise there own
Are you going to try to get honey and split, or just split and let them keep their honey for winter?
Split to build op apiary (have built comb for the split)
Last year started with a nuc that boomed to 2 deep I did a split in June and (walk away left queen) and they made there own queen. In looking back I should have made single split to 2 10 single deep hives but I tried to push it. Parent hive absconded in January (too much room And shb were to much)
But I feel it was the split and leaving the parent hive as a double.
I would remove the queen, one frame of honey and pollen, 2 frames of mostly capped brood. Shake the bees from one more frame into the nuc. Place in 5 frame nuc with a drawn comb frame on each side. Reduce the entrance to one or two bee width. Feed both if they will take it. They won't if you have a flow.
Thanks will be doing , what about the no drones yet,
If you have drone larvae with purple eyes your queens should have no problem mating.
Jim
If I have drones in NC, I know you have them in Fl.
Quote from: iddee on March 07, 2017, 05:55:05 PM
I would remove the queen, one frame of honey and pollen, 2 frames of mostly capped brood. Shake the bees from one more frame into the nuc. Place in 5 frame nuc with a drawn comb frame on each side. Reduce the entrance to one or two bee width. Feed both if they will take it. They won't if you have a flow.
And even better if you can feed a couple days before the split if not in a flow....right iddee? That way the larvae will be well feed and primed...
Great thanks will split it Friday.
Lol this all sounds ridiculous to me. We still have snow in the forecast!
Well split is done and my queen is a power house egg all over solid pattern really impressive. Also must be a flow right now because nectar is full in the comb I switched in 4 days ago so, now the wait.
Quote from: Bush_84 on March 08, 2017, 09:12:04 AM
Lol this all sounds ridiculous to me. We still have snow in the forecast!
You'll probably still have snow in the forecast two months from now. I only visit my family in North St. Paul in the summer. I hate cold. (of course, they don't visit me in the summer, because they hate the heat we have here).
We grafted queen cells Tuesday, caught a swarm Wednesday. Now we have snow in the forecast for Monday and Tuesday. Come to NC, you will like the weather today or tomorrow one, as it will be that much different.
Split made a queen and laying wonderful
Good job. I am hoping to make a split after harvesting some honey
:cheesy: