Split now or spring ?

[Dadnlad]

Two of my colonies have done really well this year, prolific queens and plenty of surplus harvested. I have made nucs from them (both laying well) with the intention of splitting and combining the nucs with the Q- halfs.

Would it be better to split in 3 weeks time when the Apigaurd treatment is finished, or overwinter the colonies whole (the nucs are in a double nuc box) and do the split/combine in the spring with warmer weather to build up ?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

As I see it you have the option of the status quo - two whole colonies and two half (Nuc) colonies or, after your evolution - two whole colonies (each of 1xnuc and 1x 1/2 full colony without queen) and two half colonies (in essence nucs)

Personally I would overwinter and see what I have left in the spring,

 

[Tim1606]

We overwinter a lot of nucs, and have often had them come through winter better than the full colonies. Nucs for us are there for replacing winter losses and surplus to be sold.

 

[enrico]

There is no better or worse. If both are looked after properly they can both survive the winter. Depends on where you want to go next year with numbers!
E

 

[Bosleeu]

I would leave the nucs as they are till Spring, if you look after them they should be fine through Winter. Overwintered nucs often do really well in Spring in my experience.

 

[Dadnlad]

Overwinter and split in the spring it is then, gives me the winter to build some more kit - cheers for your advice folks