split timing

[Zoot]

One of my hives is literally busting..today it almost hit 70F and they were out in full force. It consists of four 8 frame mediums of which 3 are full of bees, pollen and honey (some eggs though no capped brood yet). The bottom box has no stores but was moderately full of bees. In a 1 mile radius from here the foiliage make-up is about 40% forest, pasture and cropland and the rest is apple orchards. Should I be scrutinizing (for swarm signs) my hive(s) during the apple blossom bloom or is it still better to time a split with the first traditional big flow that occurs when the tulip poplars bloom a few weeks later?

[Michael Bush]

I would try to keep an eye on brood nest expansion.  I'd try to keep empty frames in the brood nest from time to time to keep it expanding.  They will swarm if you let them.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesswarmcontrol.htm
http://www.bushfarms.com/beessplits.htm

[kensfarm]

Hi Zoot..  Sat. was so warm the bee's seemed to be pouring out of the hive.. they were all over the open feeders. 

Sunday I went into the hives to add pollen patties.. check current stores.. set up a dry pollen substitute feeder(empty nuc box).  Also set up a new empty hive.. put in some old frames and wetted a papertowel w/ some lemon grass oil..  probably a little early for swarms. 

I'm getting 4 nucs & a couple queens around April 15 timeframe.. bought equipment for 6 new hives.  I'm hoping to have some time to build some tops/bottoms and some nuc boxes.

I just started hearing some frogs the other night..  won't be long!   

[Zoot]

Ken,

Did you buy your nucs from that guy in Thurmont? I found some locals (the Reese brothers)about 4 miles away in Germantown who are making a bunch for me. They are very low key, very old school gentlemen. Very un-interested in non-chemical management which is typical here.