> I do walk away splits often (aka allen 2 cents).  I have a site that never 
> makes a usable queen; most of the time, no queen and seldom quickly 
> failing queens.  So, another dumb question....what could cause failures in 
> walk-away splits, where all factors seem perfect and the split is strong 
> in bees and brood and nutrition, no varroa or little to speak of and 
> plenty of drones from the rest of the site, which are doing very well at 
> the time.  This is perplexing because of my success everywhere else at the 
> same time.  This is a permanent site, with no hive movement during the 
> year.  Any ideas?

Thanks for the two cents, but your refund check is in the mail. 
Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back.

Frankly, you got me.  Ants?  Queen-eating birds?  Poisonous honey?

Are you able to raise queens there by other methods?  Do you have another 
yard where this method works?

If not, I would assume it has to be the evil eye.  Either that or the 
genetics of the bees that you happen to have there.  Not all bees will 
requeen themselves well.  As an example of some that should, think Russians. 
they are reputed to keep a cell or two one the go somewhere in the hive --  
just in case. 

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