One hive with queen and queen cells.

[mswartfager]

I only have one hive and want to split it.  I found the current queen along with about three queen cells.  Should I put the current queen in a nuc box with some brood and bees and leave the current hive to hatch out a new queen, or should I do it the other way around?

[marksmith]

Where in the frame are these queen cells?


Mine have been practicing lately with the queen cells (midframe)



If they are mid frame you could wait until they are capped, then split the existing queen into another hive w/ a couple frames of brood. Take a cell with the queen with the move.  If something is wrong with her then the virgin queen will take out the old queen and all will be well in the world.

The existing hive will work itself out when the other 2 hatch out.

You could split 3 ways if the cells are all on different frames.


If all three cells are on one frame leave them be (if midframe)  Something could very well be wrong with the current queen and the girls are replacing her.

[mswartfager]

The queen cells are already capped.  Two are on the bottom of frames and one is mid frame. 

[iddee]

Remove the queen and 2 or 3 frames of brood, one frame of pollen. Leave the rest at the original site, with the cells.