How to Split a Beehive Without Finding the Queen Bee
Beekeeping is a rewarding and fascinating hobby, but it can also be a complex and challenging endeavour. One of the most critical tasks for any beekeeper is managing the health and growth of their hives. This often involves making splits, which is the process of dividing a strong colony into two or more smaller colonies. However, the traditional method of splitting a hive can be time-consuming and disruptive, as it requires locating and handling the queen bee.
In this comprehensive blog post, we'll explore a more efficient and less invasive technique for splitting a beehive without having to find the queen. This method is a game-changer for both novice and seasoned beekeepers alike. By following these step-by-step instructions, you'll be able to create a new colony while minimising stress on the original hive.
Understanding the Importance of Splitting Hives
Splitting a beehive is a crucial management practice for several reasons:
Swarm Prevention: Splitting a hive can help prevent swarming, which is the natural process in which a colony reproduces by sending out a portion of the population to establish a new home. Swarming can be disruptive and lead to the loss of valuable bees, so managing it is essential.
Colony Expansion: Splitting a hive allows you to increase the number of colonies you manage, which can lead to greater honey production and a more robust apiary.
Genetic Diversity: By creating new colonies, you can introduce genetic diversity into your apiary, which can help improve the overall health and resilience of your bees.
Queen Replacement: Splitting a hive can also provide an opportunity to replace an aging or underperforming queen with a new, high-quality queen.
While the traditional method of splitting a hive by locating and handling the queen can be effective, it can also be time-consuming and stressful for both the beekeeper and the bees. The technique we'll explore in this post offers a more efficient and less disruptive alternative.
The Step-by-Step Process for Splitting a Hive Without Finding the Queen
The key to this method is using a queen excluder to separate the brood and the queen from the rest of the hive, allowing you to create a new colony without directly interacting with the queen. Here's how it works:
Step 1: Prepare the Necessary Equipment
To get started, you'll need the following items:
A queen excluder (preferably a wire-framed one with a wooden rim, as it provides more space for the bees to move around) but all types will work
An extra brood box that matches the size of the frames in your existing hive (DN4)
A frame of eggs or young larvae from the existing hive
Additional frames of capped brood and stores (honey and pollen) from the existing hive
Step 2: Prepare the Existing Hive
Remove the roof, crown board and any supers and place the queen excluder on top of the existing brood box, ensuring that it fits snugly (this will likely already be in place). This will prevent the queen from moving up into the upper boxes, effectively trapping her in the lower brood box.
Step 3: Create the Nuc
Next, take the brood box and place it on top of the queen excluder. Inside the brood box, carefully place the frame of eggs or young larvae in the centre (these can be from any colony). Then, add a few additional frames of capped brood and stores from the existing hive (or other hives), making sure to shake off any bees that may be clinging to the frames. You want to just add empty frames of eggs and brood with NO bees from other hives. THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT!
The key here is to provide the nuc with a frame of open brood (eggs or young larvae), as this will attract nurse bees to the new colony and help it get established. The additional frames of capped brood and stores will further support the growth and development of the new colony.
Step 4: Finalise the Split
Once you've assembled the nuc inside the new brood box, you can add any remaining supers or boxes from the existing hive on top of the queen excluder. This will help draw bees from the upper boxes down into the nuc, further strengthening the new colony.
At this point, your split is complete! The bees in the nuc will be drawn to the frame of open brood and these nurse bees will form part of the split. Meanwhile, the original hive will continue to function, with the queen confined to the lower brood box.
The beauty of this system is you are able to build all the necessary components of a nuc (open brood, capped brood, pollen, stores, nurse bees) without having to find the original queen.
Step 5: Monitor and Manage the Split
Over the next week, you'll need to check on the progress of the new colony. The bees in the nuc should be actively working to raise a new queen, and you may even be able to see the queen cells they've constructed.
If you like you can leave the bees to create their own queen using the emergency impulse but it's not my preference. It's much easier and less risky to add a mated queen by following the steps below:
After 8 days, you can go back and check the nuc for the presence of a capped emergency cells. Take down ALL the emergency cells and add a new queen in a cage with the tab closed. After 48 hrs, remove the tab and let the bees eat their way into the fondant cage to release the new queen. After 1 week from release you can check for eggs to ensure the new queen is laying well.
The Benefits of This Splitting Technique
The method outlined above offers several key advantages over the traditional approach to splitting a hive:
No Need to Find the Queen: By using the queen excluder to trap the queen in the lower brood box, you can create a new colony without ever having to locate and handle the queen. This can save a significant amount of time and reduce stress on the bees.
Minimal Disruption to the Original Hive: Since the queen remains in the original hive, the colony can continue to function with minimal disruption. This helps maintain the overall health and productivity of the hive.
Increased Genetic Diversity: By creating a new colony with a new F1 mated queen, you're introducing genetic diversity into your apiary, which can help improve the overall health and resilience of your bees.
Overall, this splitting technique offers a more efficient and less disruptive way to manage your hives and expand your apiary. It's a valuable tool for beekeepers of all experience levels, from novices to seasoned professionals.
Sourcing High-Quality Queens and Nucs
One of the keys to successful beekeeping is having access to high-quality queens and nucleus colonies (nucs). Black Mountain Honey is a trusted source for both, offering a range of mated queens and overwintered nucs to support the growth and health of your apiary.
Our mated queens are renowned for their exceptional quality and performance. Bred using the latest genetics and rearing techniques, these queens can help ensure the success of your splits and the overall productivity of your hives.
In addition to queens, Black Mountain Honey also offers a selection of 6-frame overwintered nucs, which can be a great way to get a new colony started or to bolster an existing hive. These 6 frame nucs are carefully managed and come with a mated, laying queen, ensuring a strong and healthy start for your new colony.
Whether you're looking to split your hives or expand your apiary, be sure to check out our website for their latest offerings of queens and nucs. Our commitment to quality and customer service makes us a reliable partner for beekeepers of all experience levels.
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