How to Split a Hive
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- Опубліковано 25 чер 2024
- In this video, Frank from Mann Lake demonstrates an easy method for splitting a beehive colony to prevent swarming.
(0:00) Prepare: Remove the lid and smoke the bees to drive them down.
(1:37)Transfer Frames: Shake bees off the frames, and transfer brood frames with pollen and nectar to a new box, ensuring the queen is not transferred.
(2:58) Add Queen Excluder: Place a queen excluder on the original box and replace the lid.
Wait to let the bees move: Allow an hour or more for nurse bees to move back up.
(5:58) Final Setup: Place the new box on a new bottom board. Strap it if moving to a new apiary, or use an entrance reducer if keeping it in the same location.
(6:43) Add a Queen: Introduce a new queen or let the bees raise one, based on the season and drone availability.
What Frank Mentioned:
Hive Kits
Traditional Complete Hive Kit, 10 Frame| Z606 : www.mannlakeltd.com/hives-com...
Queen Excluders:
Plastic Queen Excluder | Z159: www.mannlakeltd.com/plastic-q...
Metal Queen Excluder | MD120: www.mannlakeltd.com/hives-com...
Wood Bound Metal Queen Excluder | Z539: www.mannlakeltd.com/wood-boun...
Feed
Prosweet: www.mannlakeltd.com/feeding-medications/pro-sweet-liquid-feed/
Entrance Reducer:
10 Frame Entrance Reducer | WW355: www.mannlakeltd.com/hives-com...
Shop Mann Lake: www.mannlakeltd.com
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#mannlake #beekeeping #beekeepers
Simple, made sense, early enough with the added Queen to have two good sized hives.
Thank you!
The easiest split I've seen. I am only into this beekeeping about 6 months. I have one swarm trap with a small colony and two hives that seem to have captured two different swarms as well. I am going to wait at least a week before I open it. Thanks for an excellent video.
You're welcome! Glad you liked it!
Thanks for doing this video. You made it seem very easy, rather than very confusing, and that's just what we needed. 🐝🐝
Glad it was helpful!
Loved this video. Great!
Thank you!
This is the best video I've seen on doing a split. You made it very easy to understand!! Thanks
We are glad you found it helpful!
Very good idea! Thanks for sharing
Thanks for watching!
Great info, thanks. Greetings from Washington state!
Thanks for watching!
Thx Frank
Thanks you make it so easy.
He really does make it look easy!
Thanks!
You're welcome!
Easy explained ty au
You're welcome!
Wouldn’t it be better to leave the new split and take the one with the queen so that foragers flying back strengthen the new split?
That works if you are allowing the bees to make their own queen. However, I have found if I do that and ADD a queen to the split, they replace her very quickly.
There are a lot of ways to do the same thing - try them all! it's the only way we learn! Good luck with your beekeeping. Frank.
Thank you! This is my new splitting method!
Could you have added a second deep back on top of the original colony?
Yes, absolutely. Since I run single deeps during the flow, I rarely do. I have weakened it enough so it won't swarm, make a good amount of honey. Then in fall, I will add either a medium or deep brood to overwinter. if I plan on splitting it 50/50, I add a deep, otherwise I add a medium. If I overwinter in a deep/medium configuration, those hives are demaree in spring (a whole other topic).
Did u look in the purple box before doing the split?
Yes, I actually did. To keep the video short and sweet, I didn't show that - I probably should have. Since it was early spring most of the brood will be in the top box, which is what you want. If I split it 3 weeks later, I definitely would have balanced the brood so I had mostly open brood in the top box, and more capped in the bottom.
Will you put another hive body on each or go straight to a super when they are ready?
Since these hives are located in our PA location, we prefer to run two deeps, we will add another brood box before putting a super on.
Well...that depends. Since my goal is honey production, I USUALLY just put on honey supers. But adding another deep is fine. I add another brood box (a deep or medium) in early fall to overwinter.
How many frames of brood did you leave in the original box with the queen? I'm sorry, I must of missed that.
No more than 5
Depending on the strength of the colony, leave 4 or 5 frames.