How to split a Beehive Easiest method by Tim Durham

The easiest way to split a beehive. It's simple fast and guaranteed. You will be surprised how fast you can spit one of your beehives.

[@WaltWW]

Thank you for the great information, I subscribed immediately when you said Cotton Pickin’ Phone. I knew you spoke a language I was familiar with.

[@WallsBeeMan]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@Jknudsen0523]

Man I love your simple, concise commentary. I'm new and wanting to get into bees, I could understand everything you said, other books and videos are beyond my comprehension because of beek terminology. Thanks for taking the extra time to explain it all. Looking forward to more videos.

[@robertstwalley3662]

spring is coming, really it will be a couple months but I never get tired of watching you Tim. I watch you stuff over and over again, always learn something new. probably watched this video 4 times now in the last few years. Thanks for all the help.

[@WallsBeeMan]

I do appreciate that so stay in touch & if you have any questions, let us know.......tim

[@Tj-ot4jp]

Tim you're a legend, i'm into my 3rd year now and your videos were the 1st i came across, always coming back to watch for reference info, thanks again.

[@WallsBeeMan]

that is very nice and thank you.........tim

[@DR-zj4od]

What I learned the most? Wear protective equipment... He did show an easy split and did a god job at that.

[@WallsBeeMan]

thank you & I just posted a new video

[@annmartin1892]

You’re a hoot! I don’t know how many times I laughed! I’m new at this and plan on splitting my hive. This makes so much sense and easy. Thanks!

[@WallsBeeMan]

You can do it! thank you & I just posted a new video

[@beebob1279]

Just found your video. Nice job. A pollinator friend of mine taught me many different ways to split a hive and yours is one of them. Simple is often the key to success.

[@badams48]

Your video is very informative. Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge with us. Is there a way to avoid moving the new beehive 2 miles away? I would a appreciate your comments.

[@WimkeSchnitger]

this video makes me so happy, no nonsense, just plane old amarican bee keeping. Thank you Tim

[@WallsBeeMan]

Well, my goodness. How nice.................thanks..tim

[@bbarrs400]

Thanks Mr. Durham! I am splitting a box like this, this afternoon. I will have a new queen for it on Tuesday. I have learned a lot by watching your videos and really appreciate you taking time to do them.

[@cricketscorner6514]

We started last week combining capped brood into 2 boxes with one deep super we dont use excluder but will next spring to have cut comb , you have a great setup and don't look like a beginner keep up the great work.

[@WallsBeeMan]

thank you.......tim sr

[@taniabing8571]

hi Tim, good to hear from you. Good to see you don,t go out to get stung to much. look forward to hearing from you in the futute. Re Darren

[@colincourier]

New bee keeper and was worried about getting stung!.You just take in your stride.i"m now looking forward to my first year with my bees in the UK,many thanks for your laid back attitude to your colony.but i definitely will not be wearing my Shorts an T shirt,Brilliant guy and thank you.

[@waysidefurniture2616]

Thanks for all your videos! I've learned so much from you! I'm a second year beekeeper from West Virginia. I've been spending the off season building hives, nucs, and swarm traps. Thanks for all the informative videos! Merry Christmas!

[@jeffkotalik6169]

Thanks Tim Just did my first split. Video very helpful. Did it the way you instructed except moving it away. Moved about 3 ft from the original hive. Put queen in and checked 3 days later, she was released and bees excepted her. Thanks again for all your great videos.

[@WallsBeeMan]

thanks and that is wonderful.......tim

[@1989happii]

Oh man you are one of a kind. Great job sir, you are doing beautiful work. please keep up the good work

[@bryanpratt5850]

That’s the real deal right there. Easy peasy! Thanks for the encouragement and the info.

[@WallsBeeMan]

thank you & I just posted a new video

[@georgebaumann1]

You are just plain awesome! I love watching your videos. Sorry but your reaction each time you got stung had me chuckling. Very educational bee keeping information keep them coming

[@WallsBeeMan]

I appreciate that and I do enjoy making the videos knowing it helps someone....stay in touch. tim

[@GoldiefromMahia]

I live on the east coast of New Zealand. Have 2 New queens arriving tomorrow. I will use your method.. thank you

[@WallsBeeMan]

Good luck! thanks for the New Zealand

[@jamesblakesley3213]

Tim Durham i love ur beekeeping KZbin video's even & experienced beekeeper like me can always learn something

[@WallsBeeMan]

Beekeeping is something a beginner can enjoy and learn something they do not know and a beekeeper who had bees for years can always learns something. There is a lot that man does not really understand about bees. Thank you & stay in touch..........tim

[@jerrysherman670]

Used your method works 100% THANKS

[@WallsBeeMan]

Welcome 👍

[@jovosedlar]

thank you very much WallsBeeMan Durham for your advice. I can't wait to try it out. sometimes the queen is near impossible to find and your method simplifies it a lot. good luck and thanks again.

[@kristinchester380]

Thanks for all your videos! You are so genuine and helpful and it has been such a great help to me and my friend who just started our first hive together 2 months ago! We started with a 4 frame nuc, installed in a 10 frame Langstroth deep. We've just recently added our 2nd deep hive box and the bees are multiplying so quickly! We haven't been able to identify the queen yet, but thanks to your videos we've picked out lots of larvae and eggs in desirable patterns, so we know she is doing well! We really wish we had started with 2 hives since it would've been easier to compare and contrast. And although it seems to be a little too late this year to give them a good chance at surviving our Indiana winters, we hope to execute our first split (much like you've done in this video) late next Spring. 2 Questions: 1) The honey super that you placed on top at the end of the video segment; that will stay with the original hive and not have been moved with the new 4 frame split, right? 2) Is it imperative the new 4 frame split be moved far away (I believe you saidin the video that you're moving the new split a couple miles away) from the original hive? We've heard hives can try to rob eachother but we only have 1/2 acre of land. How far or close it too much when attempting a split like this?

[@buildingwithtrees2258]

Good information! I see a commercial guy doing this, kinda. They shook all the bees out of the #2 brood box, put the excluder on, and came back next day. Then made splits into nucs.

[@WallsBeeMan]

Yes and there are different way...tim

[@ccff-youngfilmmakerscompet9592]

You are amazing! I need to do a split and your video was both informative and entertaining. Maybe I'll be brave enough some day to work without a suit! Thank you!!!

[@Craig-th2rh]

Excellent video! I’m a new beekeeper so I appreciate the clear explanation! One thing I’m left wondering is, do you need to move the new box far away? If you didn’t would the nurse bees go back to the original box?

[@crm9031]

Thank you for showing how to do this. I'm going to try it next week.

[@WallsBeeMan]

let us know how it goes

[@jimkovac915]

I like the way you trim off all that burr comb. I need to start doing that.

[@333johno]

Your a great guy, thanks for the info, you are one of the best on here, lots of knowledge, much appreciated, :)

[@WallsBeeMan]

thank you so much.............tim sr

[@jamesblakesley3213]

Tim Durham my mom is a long Time beekeeper to she has been a beekeeper for 50 year's she told me how often to open behves after splits it was exactly what u told me lol

[@WallsBeeMan]

Now it is rare for two beekeepers to agree on something. Tell your Mom hello........tim

[@walterbyrd8021]

Great video...well done! Must be good gentle bees...I've got only two hives left after losing six due to SHB and whatever else! Those two hives are the gol durndest meanest little boogers I've ever had to work with...BUT THEY SURVIVED. I am going to do this very split this year and buy some new, gentle Italian queens, from Weaver probably, at Navasota.. Best wishes

[@The-Skinn]

Merry Christmas! Thank you for being such a good teacher! 🐝

[@WallsBeeMan]

I thank you for the Merry Christmas.....stay in tough.......tim

[@jameshouston-mcmillan1588]

Thanks Tim, This work an absolute treat! Couldn't be easier.

[@WallsBeeMan]

thanks.....tim

[@shesanalien89]

The fact that youre in shorts is blowing my mind lol

[@WallsBeeMan]

thank you & I just posted a new video

[@BeightonBeekeeper]

Tim, you are a star ! Love your videos. Is there a Tim Durham fan club ? I'd join in a flash !

[@WallsBeeMan]

Well, I don't know about that......I just enjoy helping beekeepers and everyone can use a laugh....tim

[@winstonmaraj8029]

Maaaaan, the accent is MAGNIFICENT😅🤣😂❤️💪

[@WallsBeeMan]

Thank you. Will tell my Wife.........tim

[@MarcellaSmithVegan]

Gosh, everytime I watch this when I hear your phone alarm go off my heart stops!!! haha, sounds like a 'Radiation Leak' Warning Alarm! hahaha

[@Digger927]

Nice! Very well done sir, thank you for the great strategy...I'm going to try this method this spring!

[@TheAbledGardener]

Thanks for the excellent video on splitting hive easily. I am a newer beekeeper and have only split a hive once but my beekeeper neighbor did it for me and very quickly. He's no longer helping me and I didn't see all he did and there was no teaching. I can take the hive 2 miles away but how long do I leave it before bringing it back? for the first split, it was left here.

[@WallsBeeMan]

The split hive that you move 2 miles away, leave them there say 3 day at least.

[@thegolfbat1]

Tim I always look forward to discovering your stuff. I am new to beekeeping and think your films are very easy to follow. That makes thing much easier to work with, even for us Limey's over the water. I have shown a couple of your films to my Bee buddy George Newton who has over 60 years of beekeeping under his belt. He commented that you are not far off in what you say. believe me that is some comendation if he though ya wrong he would say so. So keep em coming mate.

[@ajjenga4316]

I'm new to beekeeping so have one question. Why not just separate that new box and place it a few feet away. Won't they hive realize there's no queen and they'll make one themselves?

[@WallsBeeMan]

Yes but it kills about a month and they may not make a good queen

[@MohammedAslamtit-bitsoflife]

Thank you again Mr Tim....yes you are a school in yourself..great to watch and we learn a lot...God bless you...aamin

[@ktommycary]

Thanks a lot for your very clear video. I appreciate the help.

[@lindaferguson593]

Instead of moving that new box 2 miles away, can you close it off for a couple days, after it is removed from original hive area? Then orient the entry in a different direction?

[@WallsBeeMan]

Some beekeepers do that. Not in hot weather thought............tim

[@johnbalogna803]

Brave man wearing shorts while messing with the bees. I think it be more worried about other parts b4 I worried about getting stung on the ear lol. All kidding aside thanks for the great videos and sharing your knowledge with us new to bee keeping.

[@Oxfordgirlcooks]

Would you keep the queen in a cage for a few days before you release her in the new broodbox?

[@WallsBeeMan]

I would place the Q cage in the hive soon as possible so the bees can eat thru the candy. I would not deliberately keep her any longer. If you will, please subscribe to this channel....tim

[@KujoPainting]

That's a cool idea, would it be necessary to move it 2 miles away though, wont it mostly be nurse bees anyway?

[@WallsBeeMan]

You don' have to move. A lot of beekeepers put brush or something in front of the hive to make it look like they are in a different location. The population will be less if you don't move. The next day or two, you can switch the two to build the population back up but don't wait more than a day or two............................tim

[@kirtmw]

What do you do if you can not move the hive more then 200 yards away from the other hives?

[@WallsBeeMan]

If you can't just put them where you can. The next day, if the split hive seems to not have enough been, swap the hive position. thank you & I just posted a new video

[@americanhottopics7373]

If you only have non flying nurse bees on the frames when you set it off do you have to move it 2 miles or could I move it 2-300 yards? I dont have anyplace i can put a hive 2 miles away!

[@WallsBeeMan]

you can do what a lot of beekeeper do. move your hive the 200 or 300 yards. Put a brush limb in front of it to make them think they are in a new location.

[@marcelinomolina9333]

Do you just let the queen be free in the new box? And what should we look for that we know that the old bees have excepted her?

[@WallsBeeMan]

You will see her but look for eggs then you know thank you & I just posted a new video

[@gsmat85]

We live and keep bees on 5 acres. What would you suggest if we are not able to move the move the brood chamber 2 miles? Thanks for posting the instructional videos too!

[@henryparrott2447]

Love all your show ❤ I've learned so much here. Jokes R great 👍

[@WallsBeeMan]

Glad you like them! thank you & I just posted a new video

[@Kentucky338]

Thank you. Is it possible for the bees to make their own queen?

[@leighsebire9025]

Hi Tim. Sorry if you've already answered this question a million times before, but how long does the split hive have to stay at the new location before returning back to the apiary? I just did my first split with your method and installed a new queen. Hive has been at the new location for two days now.

[@leighsebire9025]

***** The split hive is back in my yard and the new queen has settled in and is laying eggs. Thanks for all your interesting and helpful videos.

[@peppershake414]

Where do you get your queen from. Is it necessary to take them 2. Miles away? Everything you explained is easy for sure but I wouldn't take the 2 miles. Thanks

[@WallsBeeMan]

If you can't just put them where you can. The next day, if the split hive seems to not have enough been, swap the hive position.

[@ElijahGott-b5v]

Started absolutely rolling and woke my 4 month old daughter up when I heard him say “mmmm that one bout got me in the mouth”

[@roelescamilla6022]

What if you can’t go to miles away? Is it possible to do this type of splint while staying on your property? Like say going from the from your property to the back of your property?

[@WallsBeeMan]

I am, kind of changing my thinking on this. More & more people are saying. Make the split and you can screen them up for 24 hrs to 3 days or put a heavy brush limb in front of the entrance to make them think they are in a different location. Moving to back of property would not help. If you see the next day that the split does not have enough bees in it, then swap the hive but don't wait like 10 days to swap them

[@geoffstirzaker9499]

Do you have to put a queen into the new brood box or can you just let the colony make a new queen ?

[@WallsBeeMan]

If you make them make a new queen, you will loose a month and most importantly, the new queen will not be a quality queen. If you will please, subscribe to my channel....tim

[@kiehljoseph]

im a new beekeeper........you throw the bees around......one of my worries......r u just used to the stings?

[@smerkin83]

What time of year would you recommend doing this? I'm about to harvest and was planning on splitting this fall.

[@WallsBeeMan]

We only do splits in the Spring so each split has tiem to build up by fall.......tim

[@donnanolte851]

Good evening Tim - could you use this same process if a hive has capped queen cells as a swarm prevention method? Put the frames with queen cells in the top box and put a double screen between them the following day (leaving the queen excluder for a day so that bees can come back up)?

[@WallsBeeMan]

Yes you can. There are several tings you can play with but you have to stay on top of it..tim

[@hansonberryfarms9845]

What if you don't have drawn comb, just foundation to put in the split, or the original hive?

[@WallsBeeMan]

you can divide the drawen combs you have between the two splits then finish out each one with foundation

[@zebra61]

Tim, I just can't believe that you won't at the very least wear a veil. So many of your videos have stings. Lips, legs, ears, arms etc. For those of us that experience swelling and a week of pain, it's almost painful to witness your stings. Thanks for the great videos, sharing all of your expertise and knowledge with the rest of us is very much appreciated. Keep the videos coming and the diphenhydramine handy!

[@zebra61]

***** Well, I guess you're exchanging one pain for another. You know best! I had a sting on my right hand (knuckles) that made some pain go away so I'm a believer. Best wishes Tim!

[@alexreeves5977]

Enjoyed your video, thanks from New Zealand.

[@Hash__Dio]

Lmao that cotton pickin phone had me dying😂😂😂

[@WallsBeeMan]

Yeah, that phone......Hey , subscribe to my channel please.....tim

[@prestona9658]

@Daniel Chaput thats what i was thinking. 2014 and in the country so i'm not surprised.

[@randomhiphop5055]

@@prestona9658 southern expression doesn't mean u have to cry

[@micktait8576]

I have a delema can i buy 2lots of bees and one Queen with three stack hive with starter waxed frames and feed them with pollen patties will they stay and thrive as one strong colony str8 away?

[@WallsBeeMan]

The bees in one stack will combine with each other.....tim

[@ragimundvonwallat8961]

warning: do NOT, i repeat do NOT try this with a wasp hive hahaha

[@WallsBeeMan]

Wasp are bad news

[@connorhoyte9671]

Just gave it a good the wasps weren't too happy when I put them with the bees

[@scottespenschied6891]

i understand the move 2 to 3 miles away but i don't understand when i come to a lot and there are 6 hives on one lot can you shed some lite on this i would like to have more but need to know if i can put more in the same location rather than moving 3 miles away.

[@poodidi9]

do you leave the new hive 2 miles away? or can you bring it back at some stage

[@KingFisheR00011]

I know I've been 5 years late, bit, yes, you can -make America great again- after a week or so bring them back and they're gonna be fine.

[@loveamerica587]

Great video like I mentioned I’m a first your backyard beekeeper with two hives, will this prevent a swarm? And what month should I do this in I’m in California

[@WallsBeeMan]

It is nature for bees to swarm. People have babies and bees swarm. Don't crowed them and it is said a young queen is not as likely to swarm as an old queen

[@guitarfend]

Tim, are the bees you shook off nurse bees? If they are going to come back to take care of the brood why shake them off? That's the part I don't understand. Love your videos. Learned so much.

[@nobodyhere4667]

there is just something about southern americans that is very likable. :)

[@WallsBeeMan]

Yes there is and thank you............tim

[@madisonpell7792]

When is the best time to split hives? I have 2 hives, both are same, both have 1 deep 10 frame brood chamber and 1 med 10 frame brood chamber, can I take the med chamber off to make a new hive with this method?

[@WallsBeeMan]

yes you can. Here's the but. I don't know which zone you are in. We are in zone 7 real close to Memphis. Right now, the are about 4 frames of capped brood in the bottom brood box. Here is the important part. The box ( hive ) you move temporarily needs, say 2 deep frames of capped brood and enough bees in the box to keep the brood, eggs larvae warm enough in case you get a cold spell. it's kind of hard to tell you the earliest time you can split. First, you need enough bees. Our weather here is I think about one month ahead. Much warmer sooner. I can not give you a date but I can give you the requirements. When you have enough bees, honey ( or you feed them ) then you can split. Remember what I said about a cold front coming in.

[@poodidi9]

hi ,do you give them water when you lock them up for 3 days or is sugar syrup suffice ? thanks

[@WallsBeeMan]

If it is very hot then 3 days might be too long. Nucs & package are in the mail 2 to 3 days. You can top feed them also.

[@adampatrick3858]

Tim what kind of bees do you have? I smoked mine today to get the honey and even with a bee suit on I got stung more than you did. My bees are pissed every time I pull that lid off

[@WallsBeeMan]

Adam. When we did rob our bees, suited up real good. They would ware us out. We'd rob about 1/2 of them, say13 and leave and go rob 1/2 of another yard then go back to the bee yard after they had a couple of days to settle down. They get mad when you rob them. Go back and look at some of my old videos that can help you..stay in touch....tim

[@merrittmcdowell8675]

I live in a middle of a 20 plus acre orchard and I would like to keep bees but I'm concerned about spraying during the summer will that affect the bees?

[@WallsBeeMan]

I don't know what kind of spray but it probably would not be good for the bees at best...tim

[@markwagner5537]

What if I put my split right beside my old hive. Will all the bees in the split go back to the old hive? Do I have to move the split several miles away

[@WallsBeeMan]

If you do place your split hive right beside the old one, Screen them you for 2 to 3 days. Then put like a limb in front of it to make them think they are in a different location. The day after you split them or the 2nd day, swap the two hive positions. Keep us posted.......tim

[@stevenhale7521]

Is it necessary to move the split 2 miles or is 3-400 ft enough?

[@WallsBeeMan]

A lot of beekeepers don't move them 2 miles. They put a branch in from of the splits so it look different. If you will subscribe to this site......thanks....tim

[@2daymehappy]

Can you explain how the 9 frame spacers work? Can I use them in new foundations and frames, I am a new bee lover and having a hard time getting the frames out when checking hives.

[@dln1969]

watching this again so I can be ready for spring. Would it be reasonable to do this without adding a purchased queen and let them make their own queen from the eggs?

[@WallsBeeMan]

The problem with forcing them to make their own queen is most of the time the hive will not have enough bees in it to really make some quality queens. If you buy one, buy from a larger company that has good reviews. Keep us posted.......tim,

[@MrsWilkins]

Great video! I’m starting beekeeping this year. I was with you up until you said you have to locate the new hive 2 miles away. Is that true of all splitting methods? There would not be any way for me to do that.

[@WallsBeeMan]

I'm old and that is the way we all did it years ago. More & more beekeepers have said on these comments they just put something like a tree limb in from of the new hive making the bees think they are at a different location. Some beekeepers have pointed out that the young new bees will not leave the hive anyway. Some have screen the entrance for 3 days. What ever you do, it will work out. You can look in the new hive and you can determine in one day if too many bees went back to the mother hive. You can then just swap the mother hive with the new box and the new queen won't be released that soon and it will be OK..........keep us posted...tim

[@cboyack]

Tim, when you put the new queen in the new hive, are you using a candy plug and allowing the queen to then be in the hive within 24 hours? Or are you putting her in but keeping her in the cage for a few days before allowing her to be released into teh hive?

[@robertzanon2006]

Hay Tim I used your method to split a hive and it went well the only thing is I don't have any where else to move the split other than about 20 feet away will this be a problem

[@WallsBeeMan]

That is not a problem. Even if they are close together and the mother hive ends up with more bees than you want, just switch the hives......tim

[@larryboecker3459]

When you split a hive do you need to move it out of the vicinity of the old hive. I have a limited area to raise bees

[@natserog]

really helpful! thanks Tim

[@pinhead6422]

why move two miles? im limited to my property only, can i still do a split? or should i start with a whole new nuc/pkg?

[@zachwootton4294]

Do you have to put a new queen when you split the hive or can you let them make one will it still work?

[@WallsBeeMan]

Watch the latest video I made yesterday as I talked about his. If you like, please subscribe to my channel....tim

[@stephen26448]

How do you do it if you can't carry the hive away from the other

[@WallsBeeMan]

Put some limbs in front of the hive so they will think they are in a different location

[@sam1174]

Do you really need to move it two miles? If it just has brood and nurse bees in it, can't you just make sure that there's at least one frame with pollen and honey on it and let the nurse bees grow into foragers? They'll go back to that hive even if it's right next to the original hive. I think... I'm relatively new at this.

[@kemoidwilson9680]

Do I really need a bee suit when this guy is in a tank top and shorts?

[@WallsBeeMan]

Yes Kernoid. I would hate for a person kind of starting out and get stung bad and that would really turn you off........I'm 77 today. tim

[@2brujoman]

What were the two gray color strips that you removed from the top of the frames? I am a beginner and I am always looking for tips. Thanks, I really enjoy your videos.

[@tiffanyerb9570]

Thank you for you help full videos! If I am needing to make a quick split, and I don't have a queen, can I put a frame with queen cells on it and still have good results? Thanks again!

[@WallsBeeMan]

Yes. Yes you can do that. Just try get get enough bees in each split........tim

[@tiffanyerb9570]

@@WallsBeeMan thank you!

[@billmeek4777]

Ok , thanks for the advice .

[@628DirtRooster]

Nice work.

[@woahmomma86]

If there are eggs and you remove the queen they replace her correct so... What about moving the hive and not replacing the Queen... Queens run about 50 bucks mail order the hive could create a new Queen correct??

[@jimhegarty9561]

Tim, Will this method also work if you can only put the new hive about 15 feet away? Thank you for posting your videos. Jim

[@WallsBeeMan]

Yes. I Just made a video which I will post within an hour and I talked about your question. Thank you......tim

[@sarahhayes2566]

So I'm guessing if you move hive body in 3days, they wont be able to make new queen as eggs will be too old. I don't really want to buy new queen just split hive so they make new queen.

[@WallsBeeMan]

In desperation they may try even if the egg is 3 day old. The best way is split them when they have made queen cells for swarming

[@theonlycrazycanadian]

i could do this in summer but i need to split in 2 weeks (my queens are showing up) and im just afraid my temperatures will be too low and the upper box would get too cold. nights are still only a few degrees above freezing, by then it would be probably in the 40's or 50's at night. or do you think the heat would just chimney up to the top and warm them?

[@WallsBeeMan]

I feel like I don't have enough specific info to give you a correct answer. Is it a two deep brood chamber hive? How many frames of capped brood are there in total. If you have capped brood, then there are egs & larvaue. Let say you have 8 frames total of eggs, larvae & capped brood and you put 4 each in each split. If you have enough bees to cover those 4 frames in each box, then I think you will be OK

[@GerriElder]

What's the best time of year to do this? Also, how often could you split a hive?

[@gregandmellissastephens166]

Can I split the hive and leave the new hive side ting next to the old hive or do I have to move it someplace else like you moved yours two miles away?