splitting this hive

[Kathyp]

what i have:  one reasonably strong hive that has brood and most comb built out in 2 deeps. 

what i'd like to do:  pull the top box as a split and not worry to much where the queen ends up.  add second super to original bottom box, as more bees are hanging in the bottom than in the top, and bottom has more brood and some stores.

concern:  this is the chalk brood hive.  will i just end up with two hives infected?  although i have not seen further evidence of infected brood, with the damp weather we are once again experiencing, i do not want to spread this around.

blackberries are starting to bloom.  this seems like it would be a good time to do this.  at this point, i do not expect to get honey anyway.  should i wait, or go for it?

also, i know i need to check and make sure i have all stages of eggs and brood in both boxes. i can swap some frames around if i need to.

thanks.

[doak]

Who knows? If there are enough bees, You should be coming into your main flow, if not already in it.
Mine is about over.
If the mother queen is strong she may produce a strong daughter.
They say the stronger the colony the quicker they overcome the chalk brood.
doak

[Shizzell]

My advice: Split if you want to, and instead of adding all non-drawn frames to the top of the original hive, wait until you can 4-5 frames drawn, and then put the 4-5 frames drawn into a new super above the original hive. I doubt they will swarm with chalk brood, but you defintely want to keep good ventilation in the hive.

Jake

[Kathyp]

i have a bunch of drawn frames.  i plan on using them.  i think i'll only need to put 4 undrawn frames in and that should be ok....i hope.