starting nucs?

[TREBOR]

Hi all,
   I was wondering  
when is it to late for doing splits for starting nucs ?
 (in the north country)
 
And how well do carni's draw out comb?
 
WoW dayglow orange pollen!!! :shock:

[Michael Bush]

I've done splits in August and Septemeber, but where you are, I'd stick with August as the cutoff.  But you may have to feed a lot to get them up for the winter.  July should be pretty safe.  A great time for splits is just before the flow.  Take all the open brood and adhereing bees and put them in the split.  The parent hive will make twice as much honey, with no brood to care for, and the split will have a chance to build up on the flow.  It's a win/win.

[TREBOR]

thanks Michael thats what I was lookin for !

still would like to know what people think about Carni's
building comb!!?
  compared to say Italians

[Michael Bush]

All honey bees draw comb when they need it and the weather is warm enough.  If there is no flow and they don't need more comb, they won't.  In theory Italians are more willing to, but I have had carnis and they draw a lot of comb.