adding an Eke

[jonnybeegood]

Having a 14x12 Nuc which feels light I want to feed with fondant, I am thinking I will have to add a second Eke to the Nuc to give me room for the fondant, I will need to remove the Perspex CB & then put the fondant on top of the frames, but will have a lot of space in the top EKE, & so maybe losing heat? also I will be breaking the propolised seal on the CB, is this the way I need to do it? I have a Paynes poly nuc with added Eke to make up the 14x13 frame size.

 

[Moggett]

You can make an eke very quickly. Just get wood that will create one just slightly higher than the fondant sits. I find that you need to tape a slim eke in place otherwise it slips out of place too easily. You can then pack any voids over the fondant with bubble wrap or similar, replace crown board and add more insulation on top.

Edit: If you can get hold of another poly eke you can also insulate between the fondant and crown board.

 

[itma]

Firstly, if they were well-provisioned a month ago, they'll last past Christmas - whatever the weather.

Secondly, unless you have added frame rails to the Paynes box, you can roll out a thin (9mm thick?) sheet of fondant and position it above the topbars but below the coversheet (in the top beespace).

Thirdly, I'd suggest getting two more Paynes ekes. (They should be a few quid cheaper in their January Sale.)
Then you can, perhaps when closing up after treating with Oxalic, put one eke above the existing one, making a cavity which can be mostly filled with a big chunk of fondant (resting direct on the topbars), closed with the coversheet, and then topped with the second extra eke which is then filled with Kingspan and covered with Paynes rather thin (and thus cold) roof.


After opening up, you can help the prop to re-seal the coversheet by putting extra weight on top (placed on the edges, rather than on the thin, so bendy, middle)

 

[jonnybeegood]

yes I have a spare Eke so I can use that, I was just worried about the large air gap it would create but I guess bubble wrap will fill the gap & help, in fact I will do this with my other 2 nucs too, just in case I need to feed them later, then im not disturbing anything when its colder weather.

 

[jonnybeegood]

can you use oxalic while still feeding with fondant?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Yes, oxalic first then fondant. Lots do if needed.

 

[jonnybeegood]

if I feed fondant now then, & give oxalic in December, & there is still fondant left I take it I just remove it, do the treatment , then put the fondant back on?, the same day?

 

[Arfermo]

yes I have a spare Eke so I can use that, I was just worried about the large air gap it would create but I guess bubble wrap will fill the gap & help, in fact I will do this with my other 2 nucs too, just in case I need to feed them later, then im not disturbing anything when its colder weather.

How deep is your eke? An inch is plenty.

 

[Davelin]

if I feed fondant now then, & give oxalic in December, & there is still fondant left I take it I just remove it, do the treatment , then put the fondant back on?, the same day?

Yes you can put the fondant straight back on.

I wouldn't use Oxalic in December unless there has been a decent cold snap, it is only effective on phoretic mites so most effective when the colony is broodless. At the moment I suspect most colonies will still have brood. Wait until there is a cold spell that stops the queen laying and then treat 2-3 weeks after.

 

[Arfermo]

Yes you can put the fondant straight back on.

I wouldn't use Oxalic in December unless there has been a decent cold snap, it is only effective on phoretic mites so most effective when the colony is broodless. At the moment I suspect most colonies will still have brood. Wait until there is a cold spell that stops the queen laying and then treat 2-3 weeks after.

If the coming new year is anything like last year, the queen could well be starting to lay in early Jan - which is usual circs anyway. Straight after Xmas for me with a lump of fondant whether or not they are light on stores due to crystallisation of ivy nectar late in this season. Then light syrup come March if weather warming and not what New York has at moment.

 

[jonnybeegood]

ok, thanks all, I have had a look at a spare nuc & there is enough room between the poly carbonate CB & the top of the frames for about 6mm of fondant so as suggested I have rolled some out & will put it on when the weather dries up here.