I have 1 very strong bee hive and have read about splitting it in 2 to prevent swarming. I ordered my new queen but would like any information on doing this before I get started. What I have read is to remove about half of the frames from the hive with brood and honey and pollen and any bees that will stay on the frames to a new hive box. Then add the new queen. My biggest fear is that I will move the old queen too and end up with one queenless hive and a hive with 2 queens. I always have a hard time finding the queen. Has anyone tried doing this with any success? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Marlene

-- Marlene Leiby (mleiby@caprock-spur.com), April 08, 2001

Answers

The easyest way will be to take 3 frames of capped brood and bees along with a frame of honey and one of pollen and introduce the new queen to these frames. Depending on how soon your honey (nectar) flow is you may not want to split them now.Here in texas we are having the first of our spring flow now and this is when u need lots of bees to make the honey. God Bless and have a Great week.

-- Charles steen (xbeeman412@aol.com), April 08, 2001.

you need to split them down the middle,, basically,, just make a nuc,, have brood,, honey and pollen in the frames you use, then introduce the new queen

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), April 08, 2001.

Marlene, One good way to find your queen all seaseon is to mark your queen early on when the hive is small in number. You will be able to spot her easier when you do your hive checks. I use the "where's waldo" meathod, glance all around (try not to look too hard for her) and I have an easier time finding her. Also, the new queen needs to hang in the hive in her queen cage for 3 days before releasing her into the new bees. They need to get used to her pheromone first. Good luck! :) tang

-- tang (tang@mtaonline.net), April 08, 2001.

Thanks for the help. I made my split last week and then we had some pretty cool nights so I was worried about the bees. I checked them on Saturday and the queen was still in her little box so I broke the candy up and put her back in the hive. I never did find the old queen so I will just watch to see that I have a queen in the old hive. Thanks again. Marlene

-- Marlene (mleiby@caprock-spur.com), April 15, 2001.