2013 splitting challenge.

[squarepeg]

i split agressively in my first three seasons, but now that i have more than enough production hives i don't see doing any splits, other than to bust up the weaker hives into nucs for queen rearing.

[jmgi]

Well maybe it shouldn't be called a contest at all, and maybe we should approach this splitting challenge differently, but I think it could be done and have it be of interest to people with a solid set of rules for everyone. With something like this, you are going to have to depend on people's honesty, and really there is no reason for someone to be dishonest, there is no prize money here for the winner. With the goal of taking one package, or nuc, and multiplying it into as many hives by fall, and getting them to survive until the following spring, there are going to be various methods employed by beekeepers to get it done. This is the interesting part for me, the what, how, and when of these methods. Personally, I think buying queens should be allowed if that is what you want to do. I also think supplemental feeding of honey, syrup, and pollen/pollen substitute should be allowed. I mean, if you are trying to build up your colony numbers in a big way quickly, these are things that you will probably do anyway, right? So, we do need to establish the rules, which shouldn't be that big of a deal in my opinion. John

[Acebird]

This was meant to be a serious discussion about splitting, what you are offering is not serious. John

Nothing is serious unless you measure all the inputs as well as the output. Michael said it better, how do you judge?
There is more than one goal for splitting. If it is a contest of numbers then what I outlined is serious.

[BMAC]

This isn't going to work for me. My packages are all in the hive before April. I'm sell nucs from my packages by the time you want to get started. By the time you make your first split I'll have 2 production hives. Really can't see splitting a hive to DEATH. My goal this year was to run 1000 hives and produces 100 ton of honey. This challenge is more up to the weather then me. I can try and make 1000 production hives, but that doesn't mean they are going to produce 200 lbs. avg.

I like your goal. Let us know how it turns out.

[dnichols]

I think I will give it a try. I had limited success with my spits last year but maybe this year I will be that much wiser!

[jmgi]

dnichols, what happened last year with your splits? John

[dnichols]

dnichols, what happened last year with your splits? John

Hey John,

I started the year with four hives. Two were from packages and two from nucs. I decided to do some splits later in July into early August which may have been too late. My main issue was that the queens I purchased for the splits failed. Two never started laying and were superseded. Those new queens emerged but never could get going as at that time it was into September. One split absconded, one was robbed. I still have two that are alive but out of stores. I have been mountain camping them and I have patties for them but I have not been able to get into them since out blizzard last week. I can't wait for this snow to be GONE!

[fieldsofnaturalhoney]

Keeper,
Sounds interesting to me, and an ideal I had on splitting one double deep nuc all spring/summer long, so count me in. Again, how will it be judged? By the sure number of queen laying splits you have made by August 30 from one hive, following the rules stated in post 1?

[keeper]

Keeper,
Sounds interesting to me, and an ideal I had on splitting one double deep nuc all spring/summer long, so count me in. Again, how will it be judged? By the sure number of queen laying splits you have made by August 30 from one hive, following the rules stated in post 1?

Judging will just be by comparing results. Be descriptive as possible in your process and if you want to link photos for all to see even better. Aug 30 doesn't have to be your end date... it will be mine because that is exactly 4 months from when I plan to start.