I run about 30 hives and this is my easy split method.  I live
about 25 miles north of Kansas City Mo.  I will start feeding my bees
the first of March (if weather permits I will start earlier) and have
the queen laying and lots of brood.  I then take out normally 5 frames
of brood and shake all bees off.  Replace these frames with empty
frames(drawn or foundation).  Place Queen excluder on top of hive body.
(most of my hives are double)  A hive body with the frames of the
removed brood plus another 5 frames on top of the excluder.  Put the lid
back on and proceed to next split.  You can work the yard and go back
later and remove or remove the next day the top hive box and set it on
bottom board shake maybe a couple more frames of bees in box and put
cover on.  Move to new location install new queen and you are done.
Even if weather is a tad nasty you can still make splits.
        This way you have the right amount of bees covering your brood.
 You don't have to look for the Queen as all bees are shook below the
excluder.  I have very good luck with this method and is very quick and
easy.
        Don't forget your Apistan strips as I lost 28 hives last fall to
mites thru ignorance and putting all my hives in new mite control.
 
                                                Ken