Splitting a Hive to Make Two More Hives

In order to avoid swarming, I split a big four-box bee hive to create two additional 5-frame “nuclear” hives or nucs.  I moved the two new nucs to a corner of a farm about 5 miles away, and will introduce a queen to each of them early tomorrow morning.

Each queen is in a small cage with 4 or 5 attendant bees that groom and feed her. The exit to the cage is blocked by a sugar plug, and the screen allows her scent to permeate the hive making it hers. Once the two new hives realize they now have a Queen, they will eat at the sugar plug from their side in order to free her, feed her, and groom her.

I’m told the nucs can move back to the house in a week or 10 days — by then everyone should be bonded to each other.  

Will it work?  I have no idea. Bees are expensive, malevolent, and prone to both suicide and disease. Every teaspoon of honey is a miracle of perseverance, I assure you.