This is the most productive method of splitting a hive I've ever used. It allows you to get a whole lot of new comb drawn, and raise a few queens while making multiple splits. I'm too tired to type out the whole method, so I'm goint to provide 2 links for you to read. This is something every beekeeper should give a try at least once. I will be doing this with several hives next spring.

Start with this thread, on post #17 by Lauri:

http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?303881-Spring-Split-Last-light-or-Midday

This is a thread where I attempted to find that thread then shared my experience with the split method. Start at post #11:

http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthre...p;p=1549913#top

Thanks for the links Brad. Looks like good stuff there. How late is too late to do splits. Both of my big hives have swarmed but they are building back pretty strong. I swear I think I could do this fly back split on one of the package hives I put in this spring. In fact, if you think it is not too late I might go for it.

See if this is what I think I read:
1) Put the queen and 2 frames of brood in a new box. Put new box in exactly the place the hive was located. Do this mid day.
2) Move the rest of the boxes to a new location.
3) Either requeen the moved hive or let them make a new queen.

Can you do it this way or is it important to move the whole hive and the bring the queen and 2 frames back to the old location?

Thanks again for the info.

Got three nucs built this afternoon. Didn't get inner covers built yet. Do you use inner covers on your nucs?

I've got a nuc and a package that would probably be ripe for this as well in a week or two.

I'm gonna follow this.
I have a 4 month deployment coming up end of July so I've gotta get it done soon.

It's not too late to do it, but you may have to feed to get them to draw the comb. I just did one yesterday.

Yeah, you'll want to get it done soon enough that you can feed if needed to get them to draw the comb.

I only put one frame, with the queen on it in the old location. So far I've put open brood and the queen back. Yes the rest is correct, more or less. I use a little more equipment to make it easier for me. What I've done, to make things more simple is to break down the hive and put it on my tail gate. Put a new bottom board and deep in the old location. For just making one split, this is what I did. Find the old queen and put her back in the new hive at the old spot, then shake out the bees onto a ramp, placed up to the front of another new hive. Once you shake the bees off the brood frames, put the frames into the new box, for the new split, in the new spot... Just rinse and repeat until done. Shaking them off in front of the hive lets the foragers fly back without any of them orienting to the new hive.




No I use migratory style tops and no inner covers for my nucs. I do have to prop them open in the dead of summer to help with air flow.

Cool explanation on the split. I like the ramp idea. I missed that in the other thread.

Really glad to hear that I don't have to build nuc inner covers. For some reason I hate building those suckers. I can definitely do the migratory cover option and be happier.

I don't build inner covers for any of my hives. I buy them for my 10 frame hives. They take WAAAAAY too long to build and I can get them for $7-$8 each if I catch them on sale, or go to Lawrenceburg and buy them from Albert Zook.

Amen on that.

Let me know if you see them on sale for that price any time soon. I would appreciate that.

Do you have anybody going to Frost in the next week or so? I'm trying not to spend any more money on bees this year, but, if I could get a couple of their queens I would do the FB splits. Probably going to do them anyway, but just checking.

No, nobody going that way.

You may want to try these out. They are fairly cheap considering you get free shipping if you buy 3:

https://www.lappesbeesupply.com/carniolan-queen-bee/

I bought 3 of their Saskatraz queens last week and have 3 more coming in next week.

I might have to go in for a few of those queens.

I almost ordred some Carniolans. If I hadn't made 10 splits last week with my queens I would have. It's hard to pass up $28 queens with free shipping. You couldn't run me far enough to keep Italians again in our area. They turn all their honey into brood in the summer and starve out in the fall. They do fine down south where there's a longer, more all year type flow. Carnie's take a brood break when the nectar stops, that's what I need in my area. I wanted to try the Saskatraz queens so that's what I went with.

Thanks. I will take a look tonight. Saskaretz is a new one on me. Thanks for the link.

FYI for anybody that was following this thread:

I got 10 frame size inner covers from Foxhound Bee Supply in Hoover last weekend for $11 each.

Fur: Tried the flyback split last weekend but I could never find the queen. They got pretty ill after a while and I just did a 5 and 5 split after a few stings. I did have a good capped queen cell so I made sure to put it in the second box. Still not sure where the queen ended up; hope she is in the first box. Checked them again Sunday afternoon and everyone looked happy. Kinda worried the bigger hive may start robbing after this rain. I may try to build a robber screen for insurance. Read about those on the other website.

Usually if it's a queenless hive you'll hear them. They are louder than a queen right hive.
If it would quit raining while I'm home I'd do a split or two as well.

There was a queen in there for sure. I have uncapped larvae in the cells. I just could not find her. I have trouble finding queens anyway. I very rarely look for them.

I agree with the rain. I do want to get out there now and bump both hives and see which one makes the most noise. Problem is that I did not get home before dark today and probably won't tomorrow either.

My buddy called me tonight and one of the swarm traps I have out at his house has bees in it today.