JP, WILL DO SPLITS TOMORROW.THE QUEENS ARE LAYING GOOD,HAVE ALOT OF EGGS AND LARVA.HOPE THEY MAKE GOOD QUEENS LIKE THE ONES I HAVE.I KNOW YOU GET a LOT OF CUTOUTS AND SWARMS,BUT DO YOU MAKE SPLITS,IF SO DO YOU LET THEM MAKE THEIR OWN QUEEN OR DO YOU BUY THEM? WHAT'S THE DATE ON BUDS IN MISSISSIPPI? THANKS BRUCE
Bruce, my bees are about a week and a half behind schedule, maybe more. I am waiting to do any splitting. I found this out this past Wed & Thursday. Bees are, or were at the time still in winter mode and the numbers just aren't there yet, so I am waiting.
Normally, this is the time to split, even maybe a week ago, but this crazy winter has held them back.
My friend near Raceland bees are about a week or more ahead of mine. He is seeing some queen cups but no swarm cells yet, but his numbers are many more than mine. His bees are definitely in early spring mode.
We are in a warming trend now, so things are looking up.
I never buy queens, I draw from good hives and let my bees make their own queens or I take from swarms.
Bud's get together is the weekend of April 24th.
...JP