2 lost hives, sad

[Draginol]

This is my third Spring with bees and I've really enjoyed it. But it's really also gotten to be a pretty expensive hobby.

At one point, I was up to 8 hives.  By the end of last Summer, I was down to 4 hives (CCD took 1, failed queen took another, 2 others died the previous winter). 

I started the Spring here in Michigan 4 hives but shortly after it warmed up we had a really nasty cold spell which seems to have taken 2 of them out.

I'm thinking of using this Summer to split my 2 remaining hives up (they seem to be going strong).

My questions are:

1. Is splitting the way to go? I'm hesistant to keep buying more "stuff".

2. How many splits are safe? I'd like to get back up to 6 hives by the end of this Summer.  I'm not worried about honey production.

3. Do you have any suggestions on maintaining strong hives that aren't "in the books"?

Thanks!

[Dexterjc]

That is sad. I am just starting so I don't have an answer. I hope you get the answers you are looking for. Best of luck.
Dex

[Finski]

.
Let the big hives grow. Don't split them.

When it is good summer and a big hive has 4-5 boxes, bye a queen and make a 3 frame nuc.
When that nuc is full of frood, add again  a frame of emerging brood from a big hive. After 3 weeks new bees start to emerge, and after a month  you have full box of bees.

[amyleighhoney]

Losing a hive is one of the fears that puts me off getting my first set of bees. I hope it works out better for you next season. My prayers are with you.