Making splits

[WhipCityBeeMan]

I am looking to make some splits this year.  I currently have 5 hives.  4 of them are new colonies this year from 4lb packages and they are all doing well.  The 5th hive was a new hive last year that I made from a split so the queen is 1 year old in that hive. 
My plan/hope is to get up to 10 hives this year.  I am planning on making splits with fresh eggs and letting the bees make their own queen.  I did this last year and had sucess with the method.  My questions are below:

1.)     Am I too optimistic to make a split of a hive that was just started this spring?  (I assume not because I have had a swarm my first year of beekeeping from a new colony but I thought I would ask.)

2.)     When is the best time to do this operation in New England (Massachusetts)?  I was planning on doing the splits around mid June. I recently read an article in Bee Culture saying that making splits around early July is best but I am really unsure of the best time.  I could use some help on this one.

3.)     Any other thoughts/concerns/advise? 

Thanks fellow beekeepers!
 

[Michael Bush]

>1.)     Am I too optimistic to make a split of a hive that was just started this spring?  (I assume not because I have had a swarm my first year of beekeeping from a new colony but I thought I would ask.)

That depends on the bees. If they build up strong enough you might get several splits. If they don't you won't get any.
http://www.bushfarms.com/beessplits.htm#earlysplit

>2.)     When is the best time to do this operation in New England (Massachusetts)?  I was planning on doing the splits around mid June.
I recently read an article in Bee Culture saying that making splits around early July is best but I am really unsure of the best time.  I could use some help on this one.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beessplits.htm#earlysplit

>3.)     Any other thoughts/concerns/advise? 

http://www.bushfarms.com/beessplits.htm