If you were to introduce an imported queen in the spring, how would you go about it?
Would you worry about over-wintered old bees?
I was thinking along the lines of splitting the hive into two nucs. One with the old queen and flying bees, and the other with brood and new bees. The new queen being introduced to the new bees. And then unite the two back together after a couple of weeks, once the new queen has been accepted (or not). Or even allow the two to carry on to form increase? But old queen is preserved as a standby at least.
Am I worrying too much about the prescence of old bees? Maybe there won't be too many left at this time of year?
Would love to hear about how you would do it.
Cheers,
Bob