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ok, finally, they are in NUC1, and are remarkably docile considering I had to scoop them off with a feather into a box and then re-scoop them into the nuc. The nearest solid ground to put the nuc on a stand is about 3-4 feet away, have I now got to hop 3 ft at a time across the field to the...

OK, further advice needed please, NUC2 is completely empty, they appeared to be moving happily into it last night, but this morning they are all back clustered to the wrong side of NUC1. Should I leave them to make their own decisions, or try again to scoop them up - if the latter, it seems...

Oh wow, some great stories there - the bees always win don't they?! On the plus side, my kitchen smelled amazing when we came down this morning !

ok, with some stupidity (mine) and confusion (bees) they are now making their way into NUC 2 via a Heath Robinson bridge made of some wild comb they had already constructed underneath NUC 1... so they've clearly been there a while and I've not noticed them. We will see what the morning brings...

Just seen your post JBM, I won't leave the frames in then- I initially wondered if it they were just investigating because I'd not cleaned it properly...but there is a proper clump of sleepy bees as well as the flying ones...you wouldn't get that without a queen in there somewhere would you? ie...

I have - it's currently storing some frames full of honey that I was going to extract tomorrow...so shall I leave those in as an enticement? It'll take a bit of juggling to get the other nuc exactly in front of them, but I'll work something out!

I left a nuc out after washing it, went to put it back indoors today, and it's covered in bees! There are lots of bees investigating inside, but the main swarm is clustered on the wrong end of the nuc - ie the end without the entrance. I've added a couple of frames of stores for encouragement...

If I can jump in...that makes perfect sense, except would you remove the bottom BB during the autumn or even winter or leave it until the spring so as not to disturb/chill the cluster by messing about with the hive?

Unfortunately I've just done the divorce 😔 that's why I need to move! But yes, pros and cons to all the options, and I've found someone who already keeps bees in the new area, so I'm going to contact him to check on forage...which will be the start of the information gathering! I know I've been...

Thanks everyone, lots to think about...and I will recce the apiary situation in the new area before I go much further!

I may need to move about an hour south soon, and where the bees will live is a big part of deliberations. Current site - my own very small field, high up on a fell so long winters and plenty of rain the rest of the year. But, plenty of forage nearby with early season willow to heather later...

Probably me neither but we'll see 🤔

Definitely want to try some of these at some point - maybe next year 🐝

There was at least some heather in the mix then as it was hard work - tasted superb though!

Ah I wasn't spinning - crush and strain was hard enough!

I only had a couple of frames to extract last time - I guess they were mixed, don't know how would I tell, but it was fairly hard work...and the honey was so good!

Yay we apparently have heather in flower not far away 👌

Thank you both - as you say it’s about me working out what to do, but having your advice will really help as I’m just not confident enough yet to “know”, but it’s reassuring that I seem to be asking the right questions at least! I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a heather flow but have the...

2 colonies, one in a BB, no super needed as there are still 4 empty frames/comb in the BB for them to fill, plus I have a saved frame of capped honey to add as stores to help get them through the winter. Second hive I combined two colonies a couple of weeks back. Today all good, BIAS in top BB...

Based solely on my experience taking on a nuc last August, I'd stick with one strong hive. If there's not enough forage or the weather is unkind the colony may not get strong enough...but I'm way up north so circumstances could be very different where you are.