Considering Next Years Options

[Kathyp]

i know it may seem like i am getting ahead of myself, but it won't be to long before i have to decide what to do next year.

i want to start another hive.  i have considered ordering another package of bees.  that worked well this year, and i have had great results...but....

i love a challenge :) .  i was thinking of splitting this hive in the spring, providing they come through the winter well.  by march, they will have a whole grove of fruit trees to work on, and i figure by the end of may, i should have had a good hatching of new brood.

what i was thinking of trying, was to take several frames of brood from this years hive along with attached workers, and setting them up in a separate box to not only start a new hive, but raise their own queen.

alternately, i was thinking of taking this queen and some brood and workers to make new hive, and allowing old hive to raise new queen.  the advantage might be that old hive would be less apt to swarm?

i know it's early to be thinking of next year, but i want to build my own equipment over the winter, and need to give some thought to what i'll need.  if i buy and package and they did as well as this years did, i'll need more stuff faster (i think) than if i start a new hive and let them raise a queen.

plus....i just need to chew on ideas for a long time  :P

any suggestions/thoughts?

[Kirk-o]

Yeah you could try starting a hive from your current one.You would have to make sure that there are drones flying so you could mate nthe queen.
Might have to feed them real good to get them through winter.
If a package worked good last year maybe you could do that a gain
kirko

[Brian D. Bray]

I operate on the "doing is learning" theory.  Sometimes just doing something just for the learning experience is worth the effort.  Doing a split is one of those things.  You will gain knowledge in or have several areas discussed whithin this forum become clearer for several areas of beekeeping.

[Mici]

spliting strong hives is a usual method for preventing swarming. but some beekeeper perfer to catch the swarm, they say it's actually more efficient and easyer. my menthor lost (i think) around 20 hives throu the winter (last winter was harsh + VERY strong varoe) so this spring he just fed and fed his hives, so from around 10 or so, he now has 30 hives. he says it's the most efficient way to get them to swarming, feed feed and again feed.


oh, and don't forget to capture the swarm(s) :P

[Kathyp]

spliting strong hives is a usual method for preventing swarming. but some beekeeper perfer to catch the swarm, they say it's actually more efficient and easyer. my menthor lost (i think) around 20 hives throu the winter (last winter was harsh + VERY strong varoe) so this spring he just fed and fed his hives, so from around 10 or so, he now has 30 hives. he says it's the most efficient way to get them to swarming, feed feed and again feed.


oh, and don't forget to capture the swarm(s) :P

your mentor is probably better at knowing when his hives will swarm than i am!  i think i am leaning toward the split without taking the queen.  she's been good this year, and why mess with success if the hive comes through the winter ok.  the new hive can raise a queen, or if that doesn't work, i'll still have time to order a queen.

i'll also need enough equipment ready so that if my berry grower friend has swarms, i'll be ready to catch them.

between now and then, i have a lot to learn!   :)

well....i'm off to europe.  back in a couple of weeks.  my farm sitter was pleased to know that she won't have to do anything with the bees!  

later :D

[Mici]

hmm, now that you've reminded me. buy/build a new hive, move the existing bee family into the new one and just leave the old hive opened and empty, maybe it would be better if you leave just one frame/comb. this way you can test your luck. my menthor has "caught" numerous swarms this way, many unintentionaly, but still he got them.