I am a new beekeeper in NW Georgia and I decided to do a single hive this year. So far, it’s going well with a few bumps. I am hoping to put my second deep on tomorrow, and do not expect to get honey this year due to a major drought and my queen being in her cage for a week…
I am thinking ahead to year two. I realize lots can happen in between now and then but ideally all goes well and I have a strong year two hive next spring. I would then like to split it into two hives. I do not want more than two hives due to budget, time, and footprint constraints. I assume with two hives I may always have a “weaker” hive at the end of each fall. To reduce swarming, increase winter strength, and stay within my two hive goals, could I theoretically split each spring and combine each fall? Is there a name for that method? Does anyone regularly do this? Thank you!