How To Split A Beehive
How To Split A Beehive
🐝 Mastering Beekeeping: The Ultimate Guide to Hive Splitting 🏡🌼
📺 Welcome to our comprehensive tutorial on how to split a beehive! In this extensive video, we'll delve into the intricacies of hive splitting, equipping you with the knowledge and skills to successfully manage your bee colonies and ensure their prosperity.
🕰️ Understanding the Timing:
Timing is everything in beekeeping, and hive splitting is no exception. We'll guide you through the factors that indicate when your hive is ready for splitting. Learn to read the signs, such as a booming population, capped brood frames, and ample honey reserves, ensuring a smooth transition for your colonies.
📋 Assessing Hive Readiness:
Discover the key indicators that signal your hive is primed for splitting. From observing increased bee activity to evaluating the overall health of your colony, we'll provide a detailed checklist to help you confidently determine the optimal time to initiate the hive splitting process.
🔍 Tools and Equipment:
Before diving into the hive, it's crucial to have the right tools at your disposal. Learn about the essential equipment, including beekeeping suits, smoker, hive tool, and more. We'll discuss the importance of safety gear and how to use each tool effectively to ensure a smooth and secure hive splitting experience.
🔄 Preparing the Hive:
Explore the steps to prepare your hive for splitting, from selecting the new location for the split colony to ensuring adequate resources for both hives. We'll guide you through the process of setting up the new hive, including frame placement and the introduction of fresh foundation frames.
👑 Queen Management:
One of the critical aspects of hive splitting is queen management. Discover the options available for introducing a new queen to the split colony and the importance of ensuring a strong queen presence for the overall success of both hives. We'll discuss techniques for queen introduction and monitoring to guarantee a harmonious transition.
🔄 Dividing Frames:
Understand the delicate process of dividing frames between the original hive and the new split. We'll demonstrate how to identify brood frames, honey frames, and pollen frames, ensuring that both hives receive the necessary resources for continued growth. Learn the art of frame placement to maximize productivity in both colonies.
🌺 Providing the Right Environment:
Creating a conducive environment for both the parent hive and the split is crucial for their well-being. We'll discuss factors such as location, shelter, and environmental conditions that contribute to the success of both colonies. Gain insights into optimizing hive conditions to promote a healthy and thriving bee community.
🌿 Monitoring and Care:
Once the hive splitting process is complete, ongoing monitoring is essential. Learn how to assess the progress of both hives, identify potential issues, and take corrective measures. We'll cover common challenges that beekeepers may encounter after hive splitting and provide strategies for maintaining the health and productivity of your bee colonies.
🌐 Troubleshooting and Common Challenges:
Explore potential challenges that may arise during and after hive splitting. From queen acceptance issues to worker bee behavior, we'll address common problems and provide troubleshooting tips to help you navigate any hurdles in your beekeeping journey. Be prepared to handle challenges with confidence and expertise.
📚 Advanced Tips for Seasoned Beekeepers:
For experienced beekeepers seeking to refine their skills, we've included advanced tips and techniques. Delve into topics such as selective breeding, requeening strategies, and hive expansion methods. Elevate your beekeeping game with insights from seasoned experts to take your apiary to the next level.
🎓 Educational Resources and Further Learning:
Our video is just the beginning of your journey into hive splitting. Explore a curated list of educational resources, recommended readings, and online communities where you can connect with fellow beekeepers. Continue expanding your knowledge and stay updated on the latest advancements in beekeeping through ongoing learning opportunities.
🐝 Conclusion:
Hive splitting is an art and science that empowers beekeepers to expand their colonies, promote genetic diversity, and contribute to the thriving world of pollination. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced beekeeper, this video is your comprehensive guide to mastering the intricacies of hive splitting. Join us on this beekeeping adventure, and let's create a buzz-worthy community committed to the well-being of our essential pollinators. Like, subscribe, and share to spread the knowledge and passion for responsible beekeeping! 🌸🍯 #Beekeeping #HiveSplitting #BeekeepingTutorial #SaveTheBees
Пікірлер: 46
I used this method. On the advice of a colleague, after releasing the queen, I returned to the hive in 7 days and checked if there were any new queen cells. And in some hives I found a queen cell. After removing them I had no more problems. A colleague said that the bees are trying to save their genetic line and that is why they created new queen cells from the eggs of the new queen.
Great info thanks very helpfull
Great practical instructional demonstration Need more like this step by step Once again raised the bar Thanks
Thank you Lawrence - another excellent video and with this step by step guide it has given me confidence to have a go at creating NUCS this spring/summer. Best wishes for a successful and productive year !
Great demonstration on queen introduction thanks
@BlackMountainHoney
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Steve :D
Very useful video! Thanks for that 👍👍
Great information..i like to see different beekeeping methods especially across the pond the home of beekeeping.... now im going and enjoy some of my orange blossom honey...
@BlackMountainHoney
3 жыл бұрын
MMMMM. Now that sounds tasty!
Brilliant video, thanks for sharing 👍👍👍
@BlackMountainHoney
3 жыл бұрын
Cheers Ben
@bengibbon9229
3 жыл бұрын
@@BlackMountainHoney I’ve got some mated queens ordered, but delays due to poor weather and BREXIT means they are already two weeks late. My plan was to get the queens, take them to the desired apiary, make up some nucs with capped / emerging brood and stores, and to position the nucs in the same apiary. At this point I’d finish inspecting the rest of the hives in the apiary and have my lunch. This is to allow the older, flying bees to return to their original hive and thus then leave my nucs with just nurse bees. I was then going to pop the tab off the queen cage and position it in the nuc between the frames of brood. What I’m taking from your video is that the bees may still produce emergency queen cells and reject / ball the queen I’ve just paid £40 for !!! Guess I probably owe you a pint 🍺
@BlackMountainHoney
3 жыл бұрын
@@bengibbon9229 I've done that loads of times. They pretty much always ball her if you do it like that. Just add in the stages and you will get good acceptance. There is no rush as the colony will expand with emerging brooc
@bengibbon9229
3 жыл бұрын
@@BlackMountainHoney ok, I’ll definitely follow your process for introducing my mated queens once / if they ever arrive. Thanks again for making / sharing the video. What’s your recommendation for virgins? I’ve some coming from Portugal 🇵🇹 I’ve set aside my BS Honey poly nucs for the job as the divider turns them into 3 frame semi detached mating nucs.
@BlackMountainHoney
3 жыл бұрын
@@bengibbon9229 I don't ever introduce virgins as the cost difference is so negligible. I just always go for the mated ones
Very useful info as always. Thanks Laurence.
@BlackMountainHoney
3 жыл бұрын
My pleasure!
Great video Lawrence very useful info.
@BlackMountainHoney
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Mark
I got a very very weak colony , only a hand full of bees and the queen so thinking giving the nuc some brood frames and shake of bees , cage the queen and do as you did in this video . Hope she takes off laying eggs if she gets accepted . Very good video , thanks for some tips . 👍
@BlackMountainHoney
2 жыл бұрын
I've just finished a new video doing exactly that. Be out in a few weeks
@fishmut
2 жыл бұрын
@@BlackMountainHoney ...awesome thank you , I’ll be keeping an eye out for that , fantastic . 👍
Very informative video Lawrence many thanks 😊
@BlackMountainHoney
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Angela 😊
if you left the nuc bees to hatch one of the queens with out placing the new caged queen in, would/could they of swarmed with the virgin queen or would they stay in the nuc and kill the other queen cells and build the hive
Great vid as always
@BlackMountainHoney
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks
That was really helpful, thanks so much. Will you clip the wings on the queen or leave this until they are in a brood box. Best wishes
@BlackMountainHoney
3 жыл бұрын
We try our best not to clip them where we don't need to as just another thing to do. But you can clip as soon as they are accepted. Easier finding them now than in a full brood box.
Hi great video, you mentioned about feeding little and often. At what stage would you start feeding? After the queen is free of the cage or before?
@BlackMountainHoney
3 жыл бұрын
You can feed straight away
Thanks for the video Lawrence! In this case you don't let the flying bees to go back to their hive? What's the difference when you did it the other way?
@BlackMountainHoney
3 жыл бұрын
I prefer to not let the flyers go back and move them all to the new apiary. If you let the flyers go back it just takes longer to build the nuc up
@martynhordern7351
3 жыл бұрын
@@BlackMountainHoney I was going to comment re the flyers. Not everyone has a second location to take the nuc to and whilst you will lose the flyers the nurse bees will of course remain as they have never left any hive. But as you say that loses a number of bees and slows the build up. I just put a few more bees that I think I need to try and balance out the loses.
@johntusting2467
3 жыл бұрын
@@martynhordern7351 @Black Mountain Honey Perhaps at this time of year when build up is rapid it's not too much of a problem letting the flying bees return to their original hive? More of a problem as the year goes on? I'd welcome your thoughts. I guess anything slowing it down is a pain, but if you're operating from a single apiary you don't have much choice. Need to expand this year so that I can fill a second apiary next :)
Hi lawrence, looking to start an apiary of 10 or 15 next spring. What's the most economical/ efficient way of doing it. Have one hive at the moment but have secured some land for the apiary.
@BlackMountainHoney
3 жыл бұрын
Build your colony up on double then treble brood. Once you reach treble brood. Work out how many two frame splits you can make (of brood). Split them into nucs and add mated queens. Then dont stop feeding until Sept/Oct. Little and often and pollen sub if they need it
@ciarangell13
3 жыл бұрын
@@BlackMountainHoney I'm on 12x14 would you add 2 national brood box or 14x12 brood
Could you add a frame with capped queen cells into the nuke instead of a mated queen? Would the new queens just emerge go on a mating flight and start laying in the nuke?
@BlackMountainHoney
2 жыл бұрын
Yes you can do that if you wish. Always run the risk of the queen not mating but its a valid method
Uncanny timing on this one, I have some Buckfast Queens arriving tomorrow from BS Honey Bees and planning to make up several 2 frame nucs with their poly nuc.
@BlackMountainHoney
3 жыл бұрын
Great stuff. Good luck on the splits