Easiest way to split a hardy spring hive.

[gguidester]

Read a couple of posts from the past and found a M.Bush one that sounded like I could just separate my 2 hive bodies by putting one on a new bottom board, and walk away.  Would that work.  I have new bodies with foundation ready to set on top of each.  Please help.  Thanks!  gg

[doak]

Only if you make sure the new one has a frame with eggs and and another with brood from one day old to capped.
that is called a walk a way split.
If you had a capped queen cell or a caged queen then it is not a walk a way split.
The new hive has to have a queen or queen cell or means to rear a new queen.
Means to rear a new queen is some eggs or brood not over one day old.
Other wise your new split will just wither away.
 :)doak

[gguidester]

Thanks!

[Michael Bush]

If there is brood in two of the boxes you can just set a bottom board on each side of the hive and go "one for you and one for you" until you have a split.  :)  But this can fail if there is not more than one box with brood in it.  Pay attention to the number of bees in the box and the weight.  A box with a lot of bees and low weight is likely to have brood.

[abeeco]

Not sure about WI but out here in the rainy PNW it is still a lil bit early to be thinking about letting bees raise their own queens (reliably) 

If you see lots of drones in your hive/s and the weather ~2+ weeks from now is going to be 60 degrees + then go for it.

[Michael Bush]

It's too early here as well.  No drones flying yet.

[Brian D. Bray]

Not sure about WI but out here in the rainy PNW it is still a lil bit early to be thinking about letting bees raise their own queens (reliably) 

If you see lots of drones in your hive/s and the weather ~2+ weeks from now is going to be 60 degrees + then go for it.

Now you tell me, I split a hive 2 weeks ago and it and its parent are doing good do far.

[abeeco]

Brian, we had very good weather this last weekend. tee shirt and shorts!  I would imagine your virgin had a chance to fly...  if she found drones..hard to say?  you still have some time yet.  I would imagine if we had a few days 60 degrees (right now/ in the next 2 weeks), you would be OK.  Would love to hear your results, either way...

I have not a lot of experience raising queens but have not had the best luck (w/ mating flights) before end of may into early june.  When do you see the first swarms in your micro-climate?  I have seen swarms end of april-1st week of may a few times but I always thought they were escaping packages or migratory bees.

A few of my hives are booming and have plenty of drones.  The rest are very small clusters just starting to build up.

Cali bees nearby?  Could be a good thing for once...