THE WALK-AWAY SPLIT
IN 3 SIMPLE STEPS
1.
First you need to switch the
top box to the bottom of your hive.
Typically this is done in early spring, giving the
bees more space. Do this one month prior of
splitting. Why?
Because the top is the warmest spot in the
hive, so after winter, when the hive eats its
way up—through stored honey, the “cluster”
of bees will tend to be at the top. When you
rotate them, the cluster is on the bottom
and having space to expand upwards will
encourage the hive to expand (putting brood
in both boxes).
2.
Examine the top hive after some time
has passed (typically one month, or
when bee population allows). When there
are capped and uncapped cells (in both deep
boxes), and there appears to be nurse bees
to manage the new hive, take one deep brood
box, with a feeder and bottom board and inner
cover, and place it about 15 feet away from the
old hive and facing in the opposite direction.
You can introduce a queen (24 hrs. after the
split), or let the new hive produce its own
queen from the larval stage. (typically takes up
to a month before you start seeing larval, so a
new queen is better to do the first year).
3.
Add a brood patty, use bee feed and
wait. After 3-4 weeks when the new
hive is producing and the queen is laying well,
you can move the new hive back into close
proximity to the former hive.
Voilà—a new hive.
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