A beginner's guide to walk-away splits

Are you splitting your colonies for the first time? Check out our beginner's tutorial on walk-away splits! We invite you to share in the comments any tips and tricks you use when splitting your colonies.
For more information on beekeeping, visit our website at www.pollinator.cals.cornell.edu and follow us on Facebook at dycelab
The music in this video, "The Flight of the Bumble Bee" by The US Army Band, was published before 1923 and is now in the public domain.

[@SOUNDINTHECITY]

that belt magnet for tools is cool

[@scottmcclenahan6681]

They sell a similar version online, not as fancy though

[@ahmedainou6379]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2mag35ulNKMbpY

[@dougmahone]

Like the belt. I tell everyone that talks about misplacing their hive tool to go to Harbor Freight and buy a magnet to put in their pocket. That's what I do, works great.

[@ahmedainou6379]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2mag35ulNKMbpY

[@gazinta]

I have an arm brace with a magnet sewn in. I put in on my left above the elbow. I stick random things to it in public. It gets alot of laughs.

[@DeeeWWW25]

Just don't put the magnet near your wallet / destroys your bank and credit cards lol

[@dougmahone]

@@DeeeWWW25 That could be a good thing! I have a lot of friends that should put a magnet in their wife's purse. Sure would same them some $$$

[@lastphcm]

Just so you know in about 20 years, looking into queen cups to spot eggs will not be such an effortless task. Enjoy 😊 that youthful eyesight! Wonderful video, thank you for your efforts. Go Big Red!

[@robertharrison4967]

Very true, I am having increasing difficulty finding the Queen and have resorted to using a head mounted magnifier. Improvise adapt and overcome but don't give up.

[@ahmedainou6379]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2mag35ulNKMbpY

[@B4ldyman1]

Absolutely excellent presentation. I’m less than 12 months into beekeeping - but understood everything you said. Thank you so much.

[@brianw.520]

Outstanding video! You made this very clear and concise to follow. Will be trying this spring! First year beekeeper and loving it!

[@FrederickDunn]

This is absolutely my favorite method for making splits. A perfect demonstration in every possible way :)

[@fishmut]

Frederick Dunn . I agree but doesn’t always go great. I did this took the queen less hive far away with a queen cell in it but after inspection some time later I found I had a drone layer. She laid nothing but drones. Was not happy but that’s bee keeping, I still don’t know why that happened. Never to old to learn so if anyone might know why that happens please share what you know. Thanks. 👍

[@ahmedainou6379]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2mag35ulNKMbpY

[@TheRainHarvester]

What is your success rate?

[@ryanlindell439]

I've watched two of your videos now and you are by far my favorite. You speak clearly, get to the point and teach as you go. I am getting my first nuc in 2 weeks and looking forward to working with them soon. Please keep making these videos!

[@ahmedainou6379]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2mag35ulNKMbpY

[@Makermook]

This is the clearest explanation I've seen of how to make a walkway split. Thank you.

[@ahmedainou6379]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2mag35ulNKMbpY

[@ashleybell2319]

I'm nervous about doing this but will try this for my first time. So very happy you posted this!

[@melissapollard5447]

Thanks for your great videos. I’m a relatively new bee keeper in Tasmania, Australia and I’m finding your videos incredibly helpful, informative and easy to follow.

[@sengyongyep3866]

I like her outfit and belt of course. Please keep making video like this to help us. Thanks for the hard work and really appreciate to see this educational movie.

[@zimmy561]

Informative & clearly stated your plan and what the end results will be. Thank you, I have been looking for someone like you to make everything clearer.

[@carmenstory7436]

Thank you so much for a wonderful presentation! You made walk away splits look so easy!

[@f7ipper]

I aimed to channel your grace and precision when installing our nuc and had a delightfully positive first experience. Thanks very much from the land down under - you were born to teach.

[@nagendraghimire7851]

Well explained, you could be a good teacher.Thanks for sharing .

[@paulbutterworth9354]

Such an easy to understand video. I'm my second year, just building my second hive, hoping to split once the colony looks ready or get a swarm.

[@friedrice9535]

Flight of the Bumblebee. Nice touch.

[@ahmedainou6379]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2mag35ulNKMbpY

[@PeterSedesse]

I was wondering if anyone else picked up on that...

[@sengyongyep3866]

Great video and speak so cleanly and precise and logical . This the so so so helpful for a backyard beekeepers to improve they knowledge.

[@slc6923]

Just did my first split, and am back checking myself to see if I did it right! Thank you so much for all the information. I’ll definitely go back to this video before splitting again 👍🏼👍🏼

[@Melaniejd902]

Did it work ?

[@TheRainHarvester]

What is your success rate?

[@andimichelson5084]

Thank you so much for this very helpful video! I especially like your relaxed way around the bees. I am trying to work up my courage to attempt a split...heading outside right now with all your advice ringing in my ears!

[@ahmedainou6379]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2mag35ulNKMbpY

[@tedjackson5272]

I could listen to Emma talk all day.

[@gphilpott7122]

Very well presented. Thanks.

[@ginagroom]

This was the BEST tutorial!

[@ahmedainou6379]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2mag35ulNKMbpY

[@Regularguy1775]

Great info. I appreciate the step by step explanation.

[@jpparker19]

Clear and concise instruction expertly videographed.

[@JeAnneArtists]

Thank you so much for this video, it was very well done. I'm getting bees for 1st time in a couple weeks. So excited!

[@ricardodominguez3785]

Thank you !! Great class

[@mattsgarageguitarsrobberge1562]

Loved the music. Very appropriate

[@bobbibonner]

Thank you so much for the great instructional videos you create! I am very new at this and your videos have helped immensely!

[@heatseeker1828]

Love your channel - super helpful information throughout your videos. Thank you.

[@gssimplebeekeeping8158]

Awesome video. Great job! You're a natural teacher.

[@ahmedainou6379]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2mag35ulNKMbpY

[@JOSIANGREENVLOGS]

This is the easiest method,I adopt.Very good video.

[@HuxtonHoneyIncCody]

New California Bee keeper and would like to thank you for such an amazing video!

[@ahmedainou6379]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2mag35ulNKMbpY

[@kennystandridge58]

WOW! GREAT INFO. I'M FIXING TO DO THE SAME THING. THANKS

[@lovelymillie1967]

I just started my journey in beekeeper, but my dreams are bigger, wants to learn more and have my own bee yard. Yours is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

[@ahmedainou6379]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2mag35ulNKMbpY

[@lovelymillie1967]

Thanks Ahmed.

[@agirlandhercows501]

thanks for sharing! still new to this

[@wendyshinners7013]

Wonderful teaching! Thank you. :)

[@poplarcreekfarm19]

Thank you so much for this video! This was by far the absolute most informative split video I have found! This is my first year overwintering bees and I have one colony that definitely will be split so I am so happy I found your video!!

[@ahmedainou6379]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2mag35ulNKMbpY

[@TheRainHarvester]

Did it work?

[@johnbeard7404]

Excellent - thank you

[@pathowlett4332]

Great video, I'm going into my second season and believe I'll be doing my 1st split. Thanks!

[@TheRainHarvester]

Did it work?

[@AmandaSummers-iy8qq]

Great video! I will be splitting my hive soon and came across your video - definitely one of the most informative I’ve seen - thank you! I’m excited to check out more of your videos

[@beebob1279]

More videos please. Nice work

[@sonofthunder.]

been enjoying your content, I like the magnet on your belt too

[@tarairrgang6022]

I know, I was totally inspired by that.

[@ahmedainou6379]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2mag35ulNKMbpY

[@Reeser00]

I’m new to bee keeping. Great videos! Very informative. My 6 week old hive just swarmed... so now I have two. Definitely feeling the need to educate myself a little more.

[@fishmut]

Riley R ...You tube is the place to be if you want to learn beekeeping , many videos showing what to do and there’s Q&A videos , I’m forever binge watching them to learn from others, you will learn heaps if you want to. Happy bee keeping.

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

Did they swarm and split themselves or did they abscond?

[@user-cp2sx8gp2z]

I suppose you caught your swarm.

[@sigma_kappa]

Loved the video

[@shadowsruss9106]

Marvelous, thank you. I'm still hesitant to do this (we did it last year and messed it up). I wish you could come and help. Thanks for the video

[@ahmedainou6379]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2mag35ulNKMbpY

[@eastsussexbeesandwildlife5801]

Really interesting video, thanks. I am in East Sussex, UK and have two hives. Hope all is well with you good folks in the States. Peter

[@ahmedainou6379]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2mag35ulNKMbpY

[@karianngardenguru]

GREAT VIDEO! Thank you so much- exactly what I need right now! It will still be a week at least before I can split (because of weather near Buffalo, NY) But I overwintered both my hives for the first time! My question is how far did you move the new split in the same yard?

[@CharlesCarlsonC3]

A really informative and useful video! Done these splits before myself, and I particularly liked informal nature of the presentation. Camera work could be improved but that's a minor point.

[@VincentArboriste]

I am no expert beekeeper, but I wanted to share a tip. When splitting a hive in my own yard, I will put the new hive in my basement with a screen to block the entrance, for 48 hours. This way, they get accustomed to their new hive and when I put them back outside, they will redo a orientation fly and return to their new home. It avoids having all the worker bees go back to the original hive.😉 Happy beekeeping!

[@jasonrasheed7670]

That's a great tip. I've also heard that after 24-48 hrs of being closed, hanging some foliage over the entrance helps because because they kind of think "hmmm, somethings different here,.. oh well I guess this is home!",... and it causes them to do their figure 8 reorientation flights.

[@VincentArboriste]

@@jasonrasheed7670 Very interesting. I never thought of this one.

[@amos6235]

Ooooh that's drone brood. At first I thought I had moths, then I thought it was just regular brood. But they were pretty big.

[@Brandywine-farm]

Thanks. Just ordered my second box and hoping to do my first split shortly! You said May and it's just April so maybe I should wait.

[@TheRainHarvester]

Success?

[@user-xy1ll5mq4s]

Thanks, this video really sting me 😊

[@van604media7]

Thank you for the great video New Subscribers

[@markridgemr]

I usually do it in reverse: I leave the split at the original location because they will need the workforce to raise good queens: Plus, they are going to go through a period of no brood so they need the population:

[@osiris031]

I usually do too, you just have to be careful as I've had the frames get completely plugged with nectar and pollen while waiting on a queen to mate.

[@dougmahone]

I do the same, doing it like that helps the old queen think that she has swarmed.

[@chitoh]

Nice one..

[@cyndikonopka2734]

Great video… we got brave today and did a split. What is that coolio belt apparatus to hold your hive tool?????

[@buzzingadventures1980]

really good explanation of splits👍, love the belt system you have, did you make it or can you buy it all assembled ❤

[@corinneseaside2512]

Great Video! Doing a split today. Like your belt, the magnetized part is great for hive tool. Where did you get it?

[@marlonforrest3021]

I LOVE IT

[@ahmedainou6379]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2mag35ulNKMbpY

[@thomasbinsted1873]

A splendid video and very informative. One question I have though is did you use oxalic acid to treat the colony in winter? If so, is there not a danger of contaminating any honey that might be subsequently stored in the medium if it is used as a honey super, but was also in place whilst oxalic acid was administered?

[@lynsmith2698]

Great video. I am about to do a split on a big hive tomorrow. Its mid July right now the hive is huge and i dont want it to swarm. I did find some queen cells so if the weather permits i will do it tomorrow.

[@ahmedainou6379]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2mag35ulNKMbpY

[@TheRainHarvester]

Did you have success?

[@kathyhathaway8823]

Was just thinking about your super you had on . Was there any sugar syrup left over from winter if you had to help them out for winter an if so what did you do with it ?? Also you showed the most of this video but it looked like there may have had enough blood to do three splits or was it to just do two for honey?? Thanks for your video’s. Keep your video’s coming when possible.

[@MrandMrsBergner]

Hi thank you for sharing this video. I have a question won't the bees in the queenless hive fly back to the original hive unless you move them more than 3 miles away?

[@Ramdinohikes]

How the heck are your girls so docile. Mine go nuts once I get to the brood nest. If not for gloves I'd be stung multiple times on my hands

[@user-cp2sx8gp2z]

You must be in Texas like me , I depend on swarms and likely they are Africanized.

[@user-cp2sx8gp2z]

You must be in Texas like me , I depend on swarms and likely they are Africanized.

[@user-cp2sx8gp2z]

You must be in Texas like me , I depend on swarms and likely they are Africanized.

[@pickerick1]

very cool...me and my wife are looking to split 2 hives in the next few days and this is very helpful...ty for the info...its late June here in NC and I'm wondering if we are to late in the honey flow??

[@TheRainHarvester]

Did it work?

[@bradgoliphant]

Hello, question for you. If a hive smarms and has already started to requeen, during that time from hatching to mating and starting to lay, do the bees continue to forage and make honey?

[@hansfreundwich8331]

Great video, very informative. Camera work needs help!!

[@jasonrasheed7670]

Soo true, continuously trying to focus!

[@ahmedainou6379]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2mag35ulNKMbpY

[@mindys74]

Just doing some research on splits and would love some follow up on this video. Did the walk away split work on this occasion?

[@davidcorlett2292]

So hare far apart do the two split hives have to be? Can they be close or do you have to put a lot of space between them? Because I have to put an electric fence around my hives (bears!), I have limited space in which to expand.

[@adampope7815]

watching this before my split tomorrow. thanks for the video, also i thought the belt was not needed right up to the point where it holds your hive tool with magnets!

[@haseebsheikh1644]

how far should i keep the split hives , like is it okay to put them couple of yards away?

[@muratgokirmak6132]

You are excellent .. but motherless split need check 5 days later. ( if Monday split day check Friday ) some of them closed queen cup must be destroy they made from old eggs (half worker- half queen form cause poor weak colony ). Keep open queen cup ( young eggs) young eggs take much more royal jelly this is most important thing perfect queen. Then don't touch 30 day.... Love From Anatolia ❤

[@CyprusFromAir]

a lot off beekeepers destroy the queen cells the first 4 days in the new split in order to make sure that the new queens are made from brute that has fed royal jelly entirely from the beginning ... do you do the same ?

[@BroomfieldRR]

Would you want to remove the empty queen cups from the bottoms of the frames as they are moved into the new hive bodies?

[@TheRainHarvester]

Do i remove queen cups from the box with the queen? And leave them for the queenless hive? What is your/everyone's success rate?

[@daisyshoney6021]

Why not move the Queen hive to a new spot? Would they think the Queen swarmed? Would it be safer to release the Queen after you replaced the hive on the bottom board? I truly enjoyed the video. I watch it a few times over the years. Thanks

[@kennylecroy9706]

If i pull a frame out of a 5 frame nuc with the queen on it and put it in a 2 frame box do i have to move it out of the yard ?

[@sam1174]

Great video, but I HAVE TO KNOW WHERE YOU GOT THAT MAGNETIC HIVE TOOL BELT! I've looked on Amazon, Mann Lake... I can't find it. It would make my life so much easier.

[@rstlr01]

Laura Croft does bees!

[@cgbanny]

I would love to know where you got your tool belt from please or the name of it. I am constantly trying to find somewhere to put my hive tool

[@martinprovencher9900]

What is a good distance to keep the queen hive from the queen less hive after splitting?

[@robgarvin5634]

really enjoy your videos and learn alot from them. I will be splitting my two hives this year. so, I was wondering if you have 5 swarm cell would you put them all in the box that doesn't have the queen or do I just put one swarm cell in and discard the rest thank you

[@TheRainHarvester]

Same question! Did your split work?

[@Nurse_Bee73]

where did you get that awesome tool belt?

[@wjarnock44]

Did my first split yesterday. Pulled the queen out on the very first frame. Went well I think. Been told to feed queen - less colony on second day.

[@TheRainHarvester]

Did the split work?

[@scottbentley772]

Be very careful with this kind of split if you are not splitting already laid queen cells. Splitting when there are just eggs, may backfire. I did walk away splits in the spring at the recommended time for my region ( mid-may, Ontario) and as it turned out the spring had been quite wet and poor and the bees had not yet started to produce sufficient drones. Two splits failed and produced poorly mated queens that I had to replace. The moral of the story is, never do walk away splits unless you see lots of drones available in the colony already; and it's much more reliable to split only when you see laid queen cells. The video does cover this possibility, and I just want to stress that this is a bigger risk than the video really makes it out to be. Listen to your bees and only split when they are telling you that they are ready for it, otherwise expect to lose your splits or spend a lot of money to replace poor queens.

[@cluelessbeekeeping1322]

Can you tell me where you got your veil & hat?

[@SignatureAz]

Thank you for this marvelous video! I have a question: Is it necessary to split my good hives for winter. And is it ok to do the same way that you showed in this video? Thanks ahead for your response.

[@mmb_MeAndMyBees]

You do Splits to increase your Apiary* (use those good traits of your Queen, and prevent Swarming*!) If you have a Nuc Colony (x6 frame box) this Split can be an Insurance Policy*! So if anything happens to your main (Queened colony) the 'Split' will raise (hopefully) a second good Queen, with more genetics from open mating in the district. (Daughter Queen 👑 is only good, if you choose good eggs (traits)! You don't want to raise a Queen off cranky or poor honey production hive abilities (!) Do a Split when their are Drones available ! And, enough months of foraging, so the Split can build up it's strength !!! Way before Winter. 😉 Hope this helps. 🐝🐝🐝🐝

[@davidpatrick1813]

nice, not done one yet but have one hive

[@mathisdreydemy6651]

Hello , I am not sure because my beefare is as good as my English . But what you have shown is a method of splitting hives without the introduction of a new queen ! You wait until nature makes its duty by itself? Is it ok ? Have I catched it as it is? Best regards and thanks for what you are doing.

[@syedshah2487]

How far away the split beehives should be placed and any other lessons learnt?

[@jameshallford8656]

Where did you get the magnet for your hive tool?

[@alanthomas561]

Very good instructions, Thanks! Love the belt, where can you get one?

[@63italic]

They're not cheap...dancingbeeequipment.com/products/bee-belt

[@johansen1010]

I love to see your split

[@BackBeeBrokenBeekeeping]

Question: Why not put the queen in the new location, and allow the old established location raise their own queen? The new location is going to lose all of its foragers, so the laying queen will help offset that disadvantage. And hive in the original location while losing the queen and having to rear their own will have the advantage of keeping all the foragers?

[@Makermook]

If I have a colony that overwintered well and I want to split it, can I expect to harvest honey from either the split or the parent colony the same year I do the split?

[@PeterSedesse]

depends on the flowers nearby. If you have a lot of flowers for the bees, you can harvest honey after 2 months from a newly split hive.

[@vernonpurcell4134]

You didn't check your queen right super for queen cells. My girls would have stung me dead, how are yours so docile? Great video easy to understand. Thanks

[@ahmedainou6379]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2mag35ulNKMbpY

[@Hirokiji]

That smoker is amazing, absolutely invisible! Blowing hot air is not a recommended way to control bees, it damages their wings.

[@SF2BeeRanch]

where did you find your tool belt? i have BDat comming up , couldent find one as handy as yours tp let family know

[@KatieSmith-hi6lq]

How far away should the queen less hive be placed from the original hive? I don’t have a lot of room to work with and would like my hives somewhat together. But I definitely want to do this right! I’m soooo nervous for my first split!

[@TheRainHarvester]

How far did you place them? Did it work?