Help with a split

[sfisher]

I will be doing a split with a new queen in a couple of weeks, and want to know the easiest way to do it. The split will be done with all medium 8 frame equipment. The split with the new queen will be moved approxamently 100 yards from the parent colony. What would be the best way to do the split?

[Michael Bush]

How many boxes of bees do you have? If you have four the easiest is to split by the box. If you have less, then I would divide it more evenly.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beeslazy.htm#splitbybox
http://www.bushfarms.com/beessplits.htm

[sfisher]

I will have 3 boxes, and I have to find the queen so I dont put the new queen in with the old. Im also wondering what to do since I am moving the split 100 yards away, like put grass in the opening or closing them up for a couple of dayss.

[MattDavey]

You could do a type of cut down split where you set up a new hive right beside the old one. Move a few frames of brood into the new box, making sure the old queen is NOT on the frames. Also move a couple of frames of stores to the new hive. (I would alternate the old frames with new empty frames to encourage comb building.) Put in the new queen in a cage and then a super on top. Lastly move the old hive with a trolley to the site 100 yards away.

Most foragers will go to the new hive. The old hive retains the majority of nurse bees and the old queen.

Matthew Davey