Well, yes, if I don't overwinter my tiny 3 frame Nuc, I won't have any bees
So for me, it's not a "good thing", it's the only thing.
Since they arrived in late June I have removed frames 3 times:
July: To see what they were.
August: To transfer them into a Poly Nuc.
September: To see how they were prior to winter.
I think that's been enough. They are still small, a "weak" colony, but they are flying now at 17:30 in the rain, still bringing in pollen. (I was told they didn't fly in the rain, they do). So they are a determined little bunch of critters, they even dragged a whole rubber band out of the hive.
Given the efforts they are putting in to survive, I can only help them. So they will be warm and fed throughout the winter.
I think they will make it.
Although the posters are so right, I have been so tempted to open them up, so many times, but I have usually resisted (when I didn't I got told off
)
I have listened to what everyone has said and basically formed a way of working where I watch the entrance, check the Miller feeder (they are great, you can see the bees without opening the hive, more like an observation hive), then I think "What are they up to", "What's going on", and if I want to open them I need to find 3 reasons, or one very very good one.
Mostly they go out and get pollen (because they have Ambrosia in the Miller), 9/10 bees coming back have pollen. I did let the Miller run out, then the ratio was 5/10 bees returning had pollen. Filled the Miller, back to 9/10. So from that I concluded they were "Making bees".
Basically I am learning and it is my plan that by nursing this small group through a year, I will learn more. Maybe enough to look after hive properly. By observing the "Micro culture" I can learn how to assist the "Macro Culture".
Yes. Small nukes are worth it, in my view.
Also, the point about "£200 being a lot for bees", is quite valid. These just came to our garden because we invited them
K