What is the timing for splitting?
If a honey harvest isn't the main concern, how late can a person split hives to have them strong enough to winter well? Is it possible to create splits in July or August? I have read a fair amount about creating splits in the spring, but the focus seems to be on honey production (while I may be willing to sacrifice some producing hives to increase overall hive #'s)
How late can hives be split?
- Bryan
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- Location: Hanna, AB
- Countryboy
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Re: How late can hives be split?
I have a blue truck. What size tires should I put on it?
Let's face the facts. I haven't provided enough information for you to be able to answer that.
Which is exactly the same situation we have with you. You didn't provide enough information for anyone to give you a correct answer.
You need to answer the question of how big of a split you are making. Are you splitting a double into two singles? Are you splitting into 4 or 5 frame nucs? Where I live, 2 frames of bees and brood and a queen cell on July 1 will give me a 5 frame nuc that overwinters well.
I like a new queen to have 3 brood cycles before she shuts down for winter if that helps you with your timing.
These videos will probably help you a lot if you are just trying to build your numbers.
https://vimeo.com/23178333
https://vimeo.com/23234196
Let's face the facts. I haven't provided enough information for you to be able to answer that.
Which is exactly the same situation we have with you. You didn't provide enough information for anyone to give you a correct answer.
You need to answer the question of how big of a split you are making. Are you splitting a double into two singles? Are you splitting into 4 or 5 frame nucs? Where I live, 2 frames of bees and brood and a queen cell on July 1 will give me a 5 frame nuc that overwinters well.
I like a new queen to have 3 brood cycles before she shuts down for winter if that helps you with your timing.
These videos will probably help you a lot if you are just trying to build your numbers.
https://vimeo.com/23178333
https://vimeo.com/23234196
B. Farmer Honey
Central Ohio
Central Ohio
- Countryboy
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Re: How late can hives be split?
Another good rule to remember.
Take your losses in the fall. (Combine weaker hives.)
Make your increase (splits) in the spring.
I know a beekeeper who splits his hives to nothing in the summer making tons of nucs. They all go into winter weak, and he is lucky if he has one or two hives alive in the spring. When I tell him to stop splitting his hives so much, he tells me he has to so he can try to build his numbers.
Don't be that guy who splits hives too weak and they all die. My advice is to concentrate on making sure whatever hives you have are as strong as you can keep them. If you keep your hives strong, you will soon have plenty of hives.
Take your losses in the fall. (Combine weaker hives.)
Make your increase (splits) in the spring.
I know a beekeeper who splits his hives to nothing in the summer making tons of nucs. They all go into winter weak, and he is lucky if he has one or two hives alive in the spring. When I tell him to stop splitting his hives so much, he tells me he has to so he can try to build his numbers.
Don't be that guy who splits hives too weak and they all die. My advice is to concentrate on making sure whatever hives you have are as strong as you can keep them. If you keep your hives strong, you will soon have plenty of hives.
B. Farmer Honey
Central Ohio
Central Ohio
- kennedy
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Re: How late can hives be split?
If i lived in Hanna Alberta and was looking to expand. Then local Swalwell Alberta queens would be a good way to go.