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Breeding Bees in New Zealand
minimum split sizes
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<blockquote data-quote="Alastair" data-source="post: 13185" data-attributes="member: 13"><p>In your location which has pretty severe winter it is quite a risk at this time making splits and letting them raise their own queens. It would be into March before the queens were laying (assuming they mated), and then close to the end of March by the time the first brood was emerging. By that time they would be very low in bees indeed, going into April.</p><p></p><p>Buying virgins might make thing happen a bit faster, but mating is not 100%, you may get lucky or you may not.</p><p></p><p>I don't know how strong your strong hives are, but in my view the safest option would be split them into two or maybe three, and put a purchased mated queen in each one. Sure it will cost a bit more but it's the least risky option and you should have winterable hives long as you do it ASAP.</p><p></p><p>If you need even more hives, focus on getting a modest amount of hives through the winter in good condition, then split again come swarming time in spring.</p><p></p><p>In Auckland I can split hives right down to a handful of bees going into winter and provided they are healthy they will get through. But Central Otago is a different kettle of fish.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Alastair, post: 13185, member: 13"] In your location which has pretty severe winter it is quite a risk at this time making splits and letting them raise their own queens. It would be into March before the queens were laying (assuming they mated), and then close to the end of March by the time the first brood was emerging. By that time they would be very low in bees indeed, going into April. Buying virgins might make thing happen a bit faster, but mating is not 100%, you may get lucky or you may not. I don't know how strong your strong hives are, but in my view the safest option would be split them into two or maybe three, and put a purchased mated queen in each one. Sure it will cost a bit more but it's the least risky option and you should have winterable hives long as you do it ASAP. If you need even more hives, focus on getting a modest amount of hives through the winter in good condition, then split again come swarming time in spring. In Auckland I can split hives right down to a handful of bees going into winter and provided they are healthy they will get through. But Central Otago is a different kettle of fish. [/QUOTE]
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