best time of day to make split

[capebee]

Is there a time of day (or night) that is preferable to make a split, taking 3 frames from an existing hive
and relocating them to a NUC (along with 2 blank foundation frames) to create a new hive?

Thanks

[RayMarler]

I do it near sunset as there's light enough to see and gives the bees all night to think about the new situation. Seems to work well for me.

[capebee]

Thanks for the tip......from your experience, do you place the existing queen from old hive into the NUC.... Or let the bees that are placed into the NUC create a new queen?

[sfisher]

They say it is better to place the queen in the nuc. This is a walk away correct?

[Ozarks Honey Company]

I always put the old queen in the nuc (unless I just can't find her). Lesson I learned from a 20yr veteran beekeeper. Has done me well so far...

I don't know that there is a right time of day, I always do them when it is convenient for me.

[Seymore]

Sfisher, I believe that is called a cut down split.

The best reason for doing it that way - removing queen - is mite control. Parent colony's brood hatches down to nothing while making a new queen - voila! Nowhere for mites to feed!