splitting package bees

[dabb]

Quick question< I hope. I have two package hives I got in May. They are looking good and I'd like to make some spilts for next year, now, a least 1 from each hive letting them make their own queen. Although I've been beekeeping for a long time I've never attempted this with "new" bees but would like to get my numbers back up after loosing everything the past few years. Has anyone done this with 1st year packaged bees?
Thanks everyone!!!
---Deb:)
Sorry wasn't very quick:rolleyes:

[mistergil]

Deb, you're the best judge of the populations and if they can handle it. If you let them rear their own queens you are looking at six weeks or more for a brood emergence which will put you into early Sept. at the earliest. I would obtain mated queens if you are set on doing it just to save rearing time and you'll still likely be looking at feeding to get them prepped for over wintering. I never split fresh installs but probably could have been successful with a few. Your call.

[dabb]

Thanks! I know I'm being selfish and don't want to do anything stupid because of my selfishness and impatience but I'm very tempted. The hives look good as I said but I've never done it. Perhaps I'll wait until next year but oh its so hard. I want more and I want it now:)!
Thanks for the input!!!
---Deb:)

[Jay Burgess]

Hi Deb I split a hive that came from a package in april , 2 weeks ago. The package had filled 2 deeps and half a med super. this hive just exploded in population. I bought queens from better bee for the split. Its only been 2 weeks and the 5 frame nuc is already full and ready for a 10 frame deep. The queens I got from better bee this year are doing great. I am feeding 1:1 and there is a fair steady flow going. What the heck go for it , if it dont work you can always combine before winter. Just my 2 cents.

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jay burgess capecod ma

[Troy]

deb, you said
I know I'm being selfish and don't want to do anything stupid because of my selfishness and impatience........

Now I might not have used the word stupid, but when it is already a bit of an iffy situation, forcing them to raise their own queen is probably a bit less smart than buying a queen for each of these splits.

Buying a mated queen will put them a long way ahead of where they would be if they have to raise their own. In fact where I live, I seem to have a pretty low success rate with them raising their own queen, so they might not successfully raise their own queen and by the time you know that you will be too late to try again.

I think you'd dramatically increase your chance of success in splitting these hives by buying a mated and laying queen from someone else.

Good luck.