Eric,
 
> It is easy to miss the Queen.  Perhaps this is an instance, especialy for
> the beginner, not to look for the Queen at all.  Rather, place the split
> over the strong hive with an excluder between and check for eggs 3 or 4
days
> later.
 
Or, simply locate the queen, and set her aside, before making your splits.
then you don't have to worry about whether she is on a removed frame or
not.
 
> It has been my practice, in instances like this, although I would
normally
> not be replacing 3 frames, to place the foundation in the center.  My
theory
> is that this forces the bees to draw it out quickly.  Lately I have been
> questioning this and your #5 raises the question again.  I wonder if I am
> splitting the brood nest and hampering egg laying.  What do the rest of
you do?
 
I would put them at the edges of the brood nest where they would have the
best chance of being drawn out the way we would like them to be.  Splitting
the brood is okay if you do it with some undestanding.  You can create
problems, but it it has worked for you who is to say it is harmful.  I
would never split the brood with foundation, though.  In this I agree with
your question.
 
-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -
"Test everything.  Hold on to the good."  (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
 
Tom Elliott
Eagle River, Alaska
U.S.A.
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