5 Expert Tips for Splitting a Beehive
TL;DR: Splitting a beehive is best done in early spring with a strong, healthy colony. Acting early helps prevent swarming, while preparation ensures the process runs smoothly. Each split should include balanced resources and a clear plan for queen management. By dividing brood, bees, and food evenly, and placing the new hive at an appropriate distance, both colonies can grow successfully.
- Splitting is most effective with robust hives in spring.
- Swarm signs (like queen cells) signal it’s time to act.
- Preparing equipment in advance reduces stress on bees.
- Each hive needs a queen or resources to raise one.
- Equal distribution of brood, honey, and bees ensures colony health.
Splitting a beehive is a beekeeping technique that can help you prevent swarming and grow your apiary. By taking one strong colony and dividing it into two, you can alleviate overcrowding. Ideally, the split results in two happier, healthier hives, each with the resources it needs to thrive.
It’s very common for new beekeepers learning how to split a beehive to feel nervous or apprehensive about the task. With our expert advice, you’ll be able to divide your beehive safely and seamlessly and grow your colony.
In this blog, we’re sharing our top five tips on how to split a beehive and prevent swarming. Continue reading to learn how to keep both the original and new colony healthy during this exciting transition.
1. Split at the Right Time
Plan your splits for early spring, before the main nectar flow, when colonies are expanding most rapidly. The hive you split should be strong and healthy. Ideally, it will be a hive that has survived winter, has a large population, and has plenty of resources.
Never split a weak or small colony, or you may end up with two very weak hives. Splitting strong, large colonies in the springtime is the best way to set both colonies up for success.
2. Be Proactive at the First Swarm Signs
Be proactive and create a split before the colony swarms on its own. Two telltale signs that a hive is about to swarm include overcrowding and the presence of queen cells.
Experienced beekeepers often take the old queen and a portion of brood and bees to form the new colony. They leave the original hive with some brood but no queen. This prevents swarming because the original hive won’t swarm without a queen. Likewise, the new hive won’t swarm because it won’t yet have enough foragers.
Acting early helps you maintain control throughout the process.
3. Prepare a New Hive and Equipment in Advance
Before you begin dividing bee hives, make sure you have a second hive fully set up and ready to go.
The new hive should include:
- A fresh hive body with frames
- A bottom board
- An inner cover
- An outer cover
- An entrance reducer
Likewise, having drawn comb in the empty frames gives the split a head start for laying and storage.
Many beekeepers wonder how far to move a split beehive or where to place the new hive. The general rule of thumb is to move the split about 2 to 3 miles away from the original apiary.
4. Ensure Each New Colony Has a Queen
An essential rule for dividing a hive is that each colony must have a queen (or the resources to produce one). One common approach is to place the original queen in the new hive. Then, let the parent colony raise a new queen from a brood frame with eggs. You can also purchase or rear an extra queen to introduce to the queenless half.
However you do it, never leave a split queenless, as a colony cannot thrive without a healthy queen.
5. Divide Brood, Bees, and Honey Evenly
When splitting a beehive, you are essentially creating two colonies from one. Try to balance the split so both the original hive and the new hive have ample brood and workers (especially nurse bees). Young nurse bees will stay with the new hive and not fly back to the old location.
Likewise, ensure both the original and new hives have an equal mix of pollen and honey frames. With the right resources, both colonies can continue smoothly after the split.
Split Your Hive Safely with Gear from Mann Lake
With a little TLC, your new hive will gain strength and become a thriving addition to your apiary. Do you have everything you need to support your new hive? Shop the beekeeping tools you need to split your hive today!