[Chef Isaac]

It has been a crazy winter here. Tons of awesome weather. So... I decided a month ago to start really feeding a hive so the population would hopefully start to increase with the expectation of getting a queen in early April and than making the split... all before the major honey flow.

This is a method that has been proven to work? I know that it is important to watch for swarming and all. Any other advise?

 

[Antero]

Chef Isaac; excellent information here


http://www.tnbeekeepers.org/pubs/Upgrading%2520from%2520a%2520beeHaver%2520to%2520a%2520beeKeeper.pdf

Terry

 

[MountainCamp]

I feed for about 6 weeks or so before I make my splits / divides.
I make them up 2 - 3 weeks before the main spring flow / swarm season.
All capped brood and one frame with eggs and lots of room stay at the hive location.
All of the open brood and the queen get moved to a new spot. It can be a different yard or a few feet away.
This will almost eliminate swarming. Get you two hives, a honey crop, and a locally raised and breed queen.

 

[NHbees]

<I feed for about 6 weeks or so before I make my splits / divides.
I make them up 2 - 3 weeks before the main spring flow / swarm season.
All capped brood and one frame with eggs and lots of room stay at the hive location.>

Mountaincamp what is your success rate on the newly raised queen?
Do you have any problems with them not raising a new queen, or worse developing a laying worker?