Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => Beekeeping 101 => Topic started by: Mikey N.C. on May 26, 2016, 07:48:11 pm

Title: Is it to late ?
Post by: Mikey N.C. on May 26, 2016, 07:48:11 pm
Fellow beeks in the southern U.S., when is it to late to make split ?  With hives busting wide open ,or do ya just give more room, can ya get nucs. early enough to have to split ?
Title: Re: Is it to late ?
Post by: CBT on May 26, 2016, 09:18:27 pm
You have time to make a split if you want. How much room do they have?, is this a over wintered hive?, are you planning to put supers on with foundation or starter strips? Remember they grow exponentially for about 60 days and if the bees have nowhere to go or nothing to do( like draw foundation in the super) and store honey for you they start thinking about swarming. Give these smart folks some more info.
Title: Re: Is it to late ?
Post by: iddee on May 26, 2016, 09:34:07 pm
We will be making splits and nucs this weekend, but with mated queens.  Letting them raise a queen from eggs would be gambling a bit, but should make it with enough feed. If not, they could be combined in Oct. or Nov. for a stronger hive through winter.
Title: Re: Is it to late ?
Post by: LazyBkpr on May 27, 2016, 09:14:58 am
I will be making queens and splits until late June. I will also make up nucs to overwinter in July.  Those will have to be fed well to get them built up in time.
Title: Re: Is it to late ?
Post by: lazy shooter on May 27, 2016, 09:20:33 am
One of the old saying about our disease is: "all beekeeping is local."  My bees best forage is watermelons, cantaloupes, and cucumbers.  All of that hasn't even started yet.  Our cotton blooms from late July until late October.  That's a major flow for our area.  In brief, my season is just barely here.  I could make splits in early July.