When to split....or is this even feasible??? Also, too much room???

[joker1656]

I tried to find info on my questions, but maybe I just didn't use the right buzz words.... sorry if this was covered before.

I was a rookie Spring of '09.  I feel like even more of a rookie than I was then.  I realize how much I don't know.  I screwed up and did not get mouse guards on all hives.  I lost those hives early.  Lesson learned.  I figure at this right I got quite a few rookie decades ahead of me .   

My question is regarding one of my remaining hives.  I salvaged about three boxes of frames with wide honey bands, from the lost hives.  I intended to use these frames of honey to supplement my remaining three hives this Spring.  Two of the hives had the bottom brood box emptied of honey, and all of the bees were occupying the top box.  I simply switched the box with honey for the empty bottom brood box.  Nothing else changed. 

When I got to the third hive, which had been my strongest hive in the fall, it was full of bees.  Both the top and bottom box were crawling with bees.  I did not expect this and was not suited up.  No big deal, but I did not want to do a thorough inspection like that, so I sat the final box of honey on top.  I then replaced the lid and got out of there.  No harm to me. 

Two questions, I guess, I have.  First, generally speaking is three deeps too much room this early?  And second, if it is not too much room, should I be planning to split this hive soon?  I just did not want to leave that third box there, and find out the hard way that it caused more harm than good.

If anyone is still reading this run on post, I apologize for the length.....Thanks!   

[Finski]

Two questions, I guess, I have.  First, generally speaking is three deeps too much room this early?  And second, if it is not too much room, should I be planning to split this hive soon?  I just did not want to leave that third box there, and find out the hard way that it caused more harm than good.

If anyone is still reading this run on post, I apologize for the length.....Thanks!    

Basic idea in wintering is that the hive will be deminished as small as bees stay inside. The winter cluster is normally as big as the brood area before autumn. If the hive has had brood in one boex, it does not need another box.

After winter colonies  are usually much more smaller than before winter. Most hives need only one box after winter. It takes almost 2 months from start of laying when the hive expands again. The wintered gang will be all dead when the hive start to expand.

After that the expanding is rapid. It needs almost one new box per week.  

[indypartridge]

If you've got a box that's going gangbusters, adding the extra deep won't cause any problems, and yes, I'd plan on making a split in a few weeks.

[iddee]

How many boxes you have is unimportant. How much EMPTY SPACE they have is. If both lower boxes are full of bees and stores, the third box is needed. You can have 3, 4, 5, even 6 boxes if you have the bees and stores to utilize all the space.

[JP]

If the deeps were indeed overflowing and chocked full of bees you did no harm adding another deep. Hard to tell through the internet if they were.

If I were you I would try to find an experienced mentor that could ocassionally go through your hives with you just to make sure you are on the right track.

Besides beekeeping is so much more fun when you're bouncing ideas off of each other.

We all need our swords sharpened now and again.

As for splitting them. If you want your bees to make queens you will need drones flying before you make your splits.


...JP

[joker1656]

Thank you.  Good points all....very helpful.

[luvin honey]

As for splitting them. If you want your bees to make queens you will need drones flying before you make your splits.

Oh, excellent point! I have been considering a split for my hive, too, and completely forgot this obvious detail! Thanks!

[indypartridge]

As for splitting them. If you want your bees to make queens you will need drones flying before you make your splits.

Oh, excellent point! I have been considering a split for my hive, too, and completely forgot this obvious detail! Thanks!

If you're thinking of letting them raise their own queen, make sure you have a backup plan as well! It's not unusual for something to go wrong. If you end up with a queenless hive, you either need to order a queen immediately, or combine it with another hive before it goes laying worker on you. I recommend lining up a possible replacement queen now - keep the phone number handy ... just in case.

[Finski]

.
It is not wise at all to rear one queen for a nuc.. It takes one month from start to laying. If you bye a queen, during that time a nuc makes one brood cycle and is almost double size compared to own queen hive.  Sure it is "nice" but makes no sence.  At same time the main hive is weakened too and it is only harm if you make a nuc early.

[luvin honey]

As for splitting them. If you want your bees to make queens you will need drones flying before you make your splits.

Oh, excellent point! I have been considering a split for my hive, too, and completely forgot this obvious detail! Thanks!

If you're thinking of letting them raise their own queen, make sure you have a backup plan as well! It's not unusual for something to go wrong. If you end up with a queenless hive, you either need to order a queen immediately, or combine it with another hive before it goes laying worker on you. I recommend lining up a possible replacement queen now - keep the phone number handy ... just in case.

What about putting the combs back into the original hive and the new package hive I am buying (if the queen doesn't make it)?

My split last year worked out so wonderfully well and was the only hive to survive. We pulled swarm cells, pollen and honey, and then twice more did the same to help beef it up, and it was an incredible hive.