Splitting a Honeybee Hive

[@MrGreywolf16]

After having read all the comments I saw that Mr Herman had not been well understood. As a bee keeper, he acts too calm and professional. It is not important if the hive is strong or not, because he is showing us how to split a hive. We must learn a lesson and apply. Thanks to the teacher for his sincere efforts to teach something to beginners.

[@stephenbamford]

I have the privilege of meeting and knowing Elmore Herman. Few people have more experience and dedication to the art and science of beekeeping. This man has done more for beekeeping than most. He has worked on projects in other places throughout the world. He is quick to let folks know there are many ways of doing things. Viewers will certainly benefit from his expertise. His dedication and mentoring are legendary. He said many times, beekeeping is local. I highly recommend this video.

[@SoMDBeekeeper]

Its such a joy to watch a seasoned beekeeper go through a hive. There is so much more communicated through his actions that don't make it into his words. If you pay close attention you noticed there is purpose behind every movement.

[@srper2]

Thank you for this video, to see a calm, experienced beekeeper working with calm bees is inspiring!

[@MegaLitefoot]

I agree. No excessive chit chat and now shaky camera. Love hearing the crows in the background!

[@chazelwazel]

Joel Per

[@gjensen500]

Thank You WakullaCED, that was quick and simple way to split your hives. I just purchased and put together 10 Nuc boxes and will use them the same way as you. Thanks for all the great tips. I learned a lot.

[@martinwright1292]

Good job,the hive is a bit weak for a split. I,d say they pulled out slow. He is in Florida so the temps over the winter probably will not kill the bees. Stop microanalyzeing what does it matter if I put my hive tool down? Personally this seems like a pretty fair job. Good luck with your split.

[@CraneofBoulogne]

That is a good class, one can learn a good bit from such great instruction. The things he taught here are the important things to know and fully understand before you split a hive, any hive.

[@Edymnion]

They will make a new queen eventually, but it will take a month or more before she starts laying new brood. In the mean time the worker bee population will start dying of old age, and you'll have a weaker hive. If you requeen with a purchased queen (or if you have queen cells already in there about to hatch), you greatly reduce or even completely eliminate the colony down time.

[@SplogMan]

He is splitting that hive...like a BOSS!

[@haulinice]

I agree it is better to move the queen with the nuc and let the bigger hive raise the new queen and especially I liked the part about leaving the frame she was on! you know she laid an egg on that frame that day! This important to have the right age of eggs to raise a queen.

[@beewizerm8]

If you find her very quickly, yes, if you don't find her very quickly then she could have moved to any frame whatsoever, or as Queens often do when the hive is opened, she may go to the floor of the hive. So it's only good if you get her quickly.

[@alanthurman2078]

i do want you to know that you doint have to move the hive any were you can do it right there it doint matter if you move it 3 feet you can do it any were you want to in the yard you want to ALL you have to do is block the bee's off for 3 days so thay doint get out after 3 days open the hole put some brush in front of the bee hole thay will circle around the box for awhile to chek things out then thay will be fine thanks i hope this will help you

[@MrCool-ti7iu]

Does that really works. I'm a bigginer.

[@EastBishopEye]

Old man is bad ass... he's all like; bee suit? man I'm not even gonna wear long sleeves

[@nated186]

Great video. I never saw anyone pick up a queen and toss it in a nuc like that before

[@docrw]

I think the BEST bee split video on you tube! Good job!

[@beewizerm8]

Also yes you can block the hive off for three days if you take it to a cool cellar. In some climates, like mine, outside is fine for most of the year.

[@dfishman76]

Alpha just because he does not do it the way you "think" he should. Or does not do it your way does not mean that it's wrong. Good video. There are something's he did that I did not like but there his bees not mine.

[@beewizerm8]

As long as the nuc is strong enough - in this case it is, then you don't have to apply the 3 mile rule, then hive will have enough of a balance of different aged bees. Also obstructing the entrance provides re-orientation opportunities for foragers.

[@fishmut]

beewizerm8 ...I find you don’t have to move the hive that far , even just a few feet is good enough, yes the foragers go back but if you feed the split a sugar syrup for a little bit till they start foraging they will get going on there own .

[@crazygeneral23]

the main thing the bees have had smoked pumped into the hive which calms them quite a bit.

[@pkbishoff]

Do you have to give the original hive a new queen? Will they just raise a new one in their own?

[@357lockdown]

Great video, thank you. One question...once you move the nuc 2 miles away, how long before you can bring them back?

[@Shoetiefly]

I enjoyed watching. Good eye in finding the queen.

[@MaxFeken]

Thanks for passing along your knowledge!

[@tannermiller5888]

I have three first year hives and have a super already On them. I plan to have a hive ready for splitting next year in case one dies. Would I be able to split a hive into a deep give body instead of a nuc? Could I use a follower board and push five frames to one side?

[@beewizerm8]

He reminds me of General Hammond -Stargate SG1

[@fanconatelabaan4777]

hi there! is it necessary to purchase a new queen, are they not capable of making there own?

[@natserog]

so on the split you move more than 2 miles away then after that you can bring nuc back to original location? wonder why that is? What causes them to not want to go back to the former hive when you move them back after 2 weeks? thanks!

[@baileyslip]

Hi Elmore I love your way,,As you are looking at the frames will their be other Qeens? more than one in this Hive? We are very new to beekeeping and have heard it's only one to a Hive! Thank you for your reply. Linda and David from Ga.

[@natserog]

Did you ever get a new queen for the old box you split?

[@shannon6815]

natserog no they make their own

[@peacefulmind1559]

I split 5 hives, 2 of hives that produced queens 2 weeks later had no brood or queen present. What happened?

[@tannermiller5888]

The virgin queens probably never made it back for their mating flight or were killed by the hive

[@beewizerm8]

Thats really nothing to do with it, it only offers minimal protection. His bees are bred for docile characteristics. Also the weather is clearly quite warm so the temp diff between the inside of the hive and outside masks the fact the hive is being opened. Smoking offers no protection here in Ireland most of the time due to the weather.

[@Johnfor3]

How do you not get stung I have 10 hives and there is always a couple that try to sting me.

[@nonprofit4095]

try not to hurt any.

[@Johnfor3]

Non Profit I have gotten stung just walking up to one to do a visual inspection!

[@nonprofit4095]

John C Even if you just step on one in the grass it will release alert-pheromones. They also remember your scent if you have hurt any previously. I can't do it myself, but you have to never get any stuck in your clothes and never smoke them .

[@esmeraelillywing612]

Why on earth do you not wear protective gear of any kind? How are you not stung repeatedly?? It seems if there is even a bee in the vicinity my brother gets stung just because.

[@TristianHenz5851]

Honey bees aren't naturally aggressive, plus alot of bee keepers after a long while get used to being stung and it doesn't bother them anymore

[@HERBALNATUMAN1]

Why you don't cut a capped cell and put it there?

[@southernexposure123]

I'm a noob & don't own one bee. If I'm able I'll try catching swarms next spring. I've watched numerous vids because I won't base my beginning on only one beek's practice. I hope other potential noobs won't either. I've seen bee-wise keepers whose aviaries succeeded. I watched a bee catcher who killed his hive because he was seemingly ignorant of, billigerent to, and uncaring for his bees. I see this vid as a guide for the process if not to be carbon copied by beeks in all locations. Next vid?

[@pickinaway1]

Good work, thanks for the tips. I still wear a hood and jacket. (Im just a wimp)

[@framcesmoore]

would they make there own queen if you did not have a queen to put in there

[@hollypasslagat7678]

+Frances Moore They do by feeding one of the young ones with special food that turns it into queen when fully grown up

[@jonathanpegado7719]

Thanks sir for sharing your knowledge

[@1969626]

Know that the queen is in the 5 frame nuke but the 10 frame hive body has new larva under 3 days old why didn’t you let the bees make an emergency queen yes it takes 21 days for a new queen to be produced and another week for her to go on her mating flight but that way it’s free or am I wrong will you let me know thanks.

[@Lisatfitness]

These bees must be on some sort of sedative, my bees would have run him out of the yard. I have a couple of queens coming that are supposed to be calmer. He Swears you can work them in a short sleeve shirt.

[@robertmuir4496]

Could you have just waited for the old box to make a new queen?

[@Carpfish29]

Excellent Job And Right To The Point Thanks!

[@paganpoetprophet6441]

the moving the nuc 2 miles away is great to know , i am novice didnt know this ; but understand do all agree ? overall informative video thank you

[@kennylecroy9706]

People i know do not move them,they stay in same yard

[@clydog1]

Great stuff, thanks.

[@RandallsRestRelaxation]

Good video

[@Buzzshot_GW]

How can u tell that its the queen

[@yerouttaheah]

MrMem2011 She's bigger than the workers and a different shape than the drones.

[@lydiabothwell2349]

Thank you so much for this video! :)

[@dodviper31]

he been doing for a while you sound new to the bee world so dont talk what you dont know

[@StevenW1955]

Very informative, Thanks.

[@eryngobra]

@alpacatrekker Why on earth would it matter one way or another of he put his hive tool down? Also these are his bees and they are honeybees not Africanized. I'm sure he knows these bees and they are used to this. If he felt he needed to wear a vail or suit he would have done it. What is wrong with his frames? They look fine to me. You seem like an an angry know - it all. Man has been raising bees for a long time now. Longer than vails and suites and hive tools have been around.

[@honeybees1]

That was great.Thanks.

[@Edymnion]

Its probably to stop people. Judges tend to side with you when you tell them the idiot that got stung to death jumped over your locked fence and started knocking your hives over, as opposed to saying they could have accidentally fallen into them.