Easiest way to split a hardy spring hive.

gguidester · April 21, 2009, 11:16:38 PM

Read a couple of posts from the past and found a M.Bush one that sounded like I could just separate my 2 hive bodies by putting one on a new bottom board, and walk away. Would that work. I have new bodies with foundation ready to set on top of each. Please help. Thanks! gg

doak · April 21, 2009, 11:36:17 PM

Only if you make sure the new one has a frame with eggs and and another with brood from one day old to capped.
that is called a walk a way split.
If you had a capped queen cell or a caged queen then it is not a walk a way split.
The new hive has to have a queen or queen cell or means to rear a new queen.
Means to rear a new queen is some eggs or brood not over one day old.
Other wise your new split will just wither away.
:)doak

gguidester · April 21, 2009, 11:49:13 PM

Thanks!

Michael Bush · April 25, 2009, 03:18:24 PM

If there is brood in two of the boxes you can just set a bottom board on each side of the hive and go "one for you and one for you" until you have a split. :) But this can fail if there is not more than one box with brood in it. Pay attention to the number of bees in the box and the weight. A box with a lot of bees and low weight is likely to have brood.

abeeco · April 26, 2009, 03:00:49 PM

Not sure about WI but out here in the rainy PNW it is still a lil bit early to be thinking about letting bees raise their own queens (reliably)

If you see lots of drones in your hive/s and the weather ~2+ weeks from now is going to be 60 degrees + then go for it.

Michael Bush · April 26, 2009, 06:11:07 PM

It's too early here as well. No drones flying yet.

Brian D. Bray · April 26, 2009, 11:31:21 PM

Quote from: abeeco on April 26, 2009, 03:00:49 PM
Not sure about WI but out here in the rainy PNW it is still a lil bit early to be thinking about letting bees raise their own queens (reliably)

If you see lots of drones in your hive/s and the weather ~2+ weeks from now is going to be 60 degrees + then go for it.

Now you tell me, I split a hive 2 weeks ago and it and its parent are doing good do far.

abeeco · April 27, 2009, 05:25:30 AM

Brian, we had very good weather this last weekend. tee shirt and shorts! I would imagine your virgin had a chance to fly... if she found drones..hard to say? you still have some time yet. I would imagine if we had a few days 60 degrees (right now/ in the next 2 weeks), you would be OK. Would love to hear your results, either way...

I have not a lot of experience raising queens but have not had the best luck (w/ mating flights) before end of may into early june. When do you see the first swarms in your micro-climate? I have seen swarms end of april-1st week of may a few times but I always thought they were escaping packages or migratory bees.

A few of my hives are booming and have plenty of drones. The rest are very small clusters just starting to build up.

Cali bees nearby? Could be a good thing for once...