Split With Queen Cells

[JordanM]

I have my observation hive set up and i put a frame of brood in it they have now made 5 queens cells. A few qeeks ago i got a swarm that is now filling 3 deeps and a super, i now want to split this hive befour it swarms. Is it alright if i take a  knife and cut two of these queen cells out and attach to a 2 frames and make two splits off from this hive?

[mgmoore7]

Yes.  Works just fine.  Be careful and if you know when they were capped, you should be able to determine when they will hatch.  Be sure your splits are queenless for a while.  Most will recommend at least several hours. 

[JordanM]

ok ill leave the splits queenless for a few hours. They just capped the queencells tonight so i might be able to make my splits tommorow and i think i will make 3 2 frame splits.

[mgmoore7]

If they just capped the queen cells, then wait use the queen calendar.

2 days before hatch - make splits
1 day before hatch - insert queen cell

Then it will almost 2 weeks for you can possibly have a laying queen

[JordanM]

o good idea ill do that.

[JordanM]

Doesnt it take 8 days after a queen cell is capped for her to emerge?