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I'd strongly recommend finding a mentor in your area (search on beekeeping for a club near you). They can help you examine the colony... if there aren't signs/symptoms of disease, keep the frames that have brood or stores in them! At least for starters. The comb is probably old and dark (and thus a candidate for eventual replacement), but absent illness don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. The split idea is fine too.
Note that this time of year, the whole colony may be in the upper deep and you can just remove the empty bottom deep, put a new bottom board on, add a new box of foundation over the "full" deep and let them move up into it. Bees move upwards, so use that instinct if you want to cull old frames/equipment.
Note that this time of year, the whole colony may be in the upper deep and you can just remove the empty bottom deep, put a new bottom board on, add a new box of foundation over the "full" deep and let them move up into it. Bees move upwards, so use that instinct if you want to cull old frames/equipment.
