To split or not?

[SS_Smith]

I went through winter ok last year nervously with 1 hive and am thinking that I might split and make two hives.

This year it's been brood and half most of the year, but about a month ago I made it into a double brood and put a QE between the brood and old super. Then I checkerboarded new foundation with the old brood frames over both brood boxes.

I've taken one super of honey off and they have cleaned the wet frames, I've half a super of honey in the second super.

Roof
Cleaned super
Half filled super
QE
Brood box
Brood box
OMF

Question is would it be ok to do a split so I'd have two hives overwintering? and could I do a walk away split or should I buy a mated queen locally?

Thanks
SS

 

[Erichalfbee]

I went through winter ok last year nervously with 1 hive and am thinking that I might split and make two hives.

This year it's been brood and half most of the year, but about a month ago I made it into a double brood and put a QE between the brood and old super. Then I checkerboarded new foundation with the old brood frames over both brood boxes.

I've taken one super of honey off and they have cleaned the wet frames, I've half a super of honey in the second super.

Roof
Cleaned super
Half filled super
QE
Brood box
Brood box
OMF

Question is would it be ok to do a split so I'd have two hives overwintering? and could I do a walk away split or should I buy a mated queen locally?

Thanks
SS

Wasps are around the corner.
If I was splitting I would get a mated queen.

 

[john t]

having only one hive is always a risk,i would certainly make increase so you have some insurance and more flexibility
, you still have plenty of time to make splits and raise a few queens, you have many options,
i personally use a snelgrove board,and that is what i will be doing later today as it gives lots of flexibility,

i also make splits using 2 and 3 frame nucs,as this increases the chances of getting mated queens, ie more nucs increases chances of success , if you end up with more queens than you want at the end of the season you can always unite

wasps are certainly in their numbers so i put out wasp traps and entrances are reduced to 1 drone size hole

 

[Murox]

I went through winter ok last year nervously with 1 hive and am thinking that I might split and make two hives.

This year it's been brood and half most of the year, but about a month ago I made it into a double brood and put a QE between the brood and old super. Then I checkerboarded new foundation with the old brood frames over both brood boxes.

I've taken one super of honey off and they have cleaned the wet frames, I've half a super of honey in the second super.

Roof
Cleaned super
Half filled super
QE
Brood box
Brood box
OMF

Question is would it be ok to do a split so I'd have two hives overwintering? and could I do a walk away split or should I buy a mated queen locally?

Thanks
SS

The choice is yours. Make an increase if you are happy with your current stocks performance and traits, or buy a queen. Do you have a useful autumn pollens/flow normally where you live ? You have a half super of honey, be sure there are plenty of stores in your BBs. Have those new frames been drawn fully yet ?
Don't end up with two weak units. Be sure to have a really strong hive before you make your move. Two hives are really the way to go for the future.

 

[mbc]

Wasps are around the corner.
If I was splitting I would get a mated queen.

+1