Bees in P**ynes Poly Nuc feeder

[leonotron]

Just inspected a hive that started off as a small caste at the end of May.
They were building up fairly slow but then started to come on nicely so I added a second box on top, extending to another six frames. So six in the bottom and six in the top.

There was a large amount off bees in the feeder, which has no feed in it. I haven't closed it off yet.

There's a lot of them in the hive in total but queen still has enough room to lay.

Is it something to worry about? I hardly want to add another six frame extension. I'd only have foundation anyway.

Any thoughts?

 

[chrisb]

if all frames drawn out or nearly drawn sounds like time to move them into a full brood box

 

[Finman]

.
Move them to normal hive box, as Chris already said.

 

[leonotron]

Can I not leave them to overwinter in the poly? Will they not be better insulated in that? What's the benefit in moving to a regular hive?
All frames are drawn out. It's the same size as a standard brood box expect 6 top and 6 bottom.

 

[user 6228]

Just inspected a hive that started off as a small caste at the end of May.
They were building up fairly slow but then started to come on nicely so I added a second box on top, extending to another six frames. So six in the bottom and six in the top.

There was a large amount off bees in the feeder, which has no feed in it. I haven't closed it off yet.

There's a lot of them in the hive in total but queen still has enough room to lay.

Is it something to worry about? I hardly want to add another six frame extension. I'd only have foundation anyway.

Any thoughts?

It's September don't alter their configuration if you can avoid it.

 

[Hivemaker.]

Can I not leave them to overwinter in the poly? Will they not be better insulated in that?

Yes.

 

[Finman]

.
Important is, how many brood frames colony has. The winter cluster will be the size of the brood area.

If brood area is 4 frames, the wintering space should be 4 frames. IT means then that the colony needs one nuc box.

 

[Finman]

.
In preparing to feeding I shake the bees in front of hive. I want to see, if one box is enough. Surprisingly mostly the bees go into one box and stay there. If not, I add another box.

But in UK, this is too early to see now, what they need for Winter.

Different winter....not much

Our wintering periods from October to December and from Marsh to Aptil are exatly the same like UK Winter. But we do not have any flowers here. 5 months when temps are 0-10C, and no snow.

In South Finland we have snow cover during January to Marsh, 3 -3.5 months.
.

 

[Cussword]

Can I not leave them to overwinter in the poly? Will they not be better insulated in that? .

Not if you move them into a poly hive. .

I mean no offence with this post.

.

 

[leonotron]

Not if you move them into a poly hive. .

I mean no offence with this post.

.

I've no poly hives! Only wood. I prefer working with wooden hives.

 

[MartinL]

I've no poly hives! Only wood. I prefer working with wooden hives.

So put them in wooden one!

 

[linoleum bonypart]

Put crown board under the feeder

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Just take the blasted feeder off?

I hope I haven't upset the handbag brigade too much by suggesting that.

 

[chrisb]

are Paynes feeders built in to the inside

 

[Swarm]

are Paynes feeders built in to the inside

Yes. The bees will build comb in there.

 

[chrisb]

yes and make good use of it.. lol

 

[Spikedog]

I'm in the same situation. Two poly Nuc Brood boxes - one over the other. The built in feeder is a pain and has been known to drown bees. Blocked mine off* and Association colleagues have actually cut them out for additional frame space. Like you my full hives are wooden but I have brought Queens in small colonies through the winter in a Poly Nuc - I hope the double BBox will suffice for this troop over winter as they are valued. I'm trying to bring an Apedia (Q+) on three Apedia boxes with feeder (High Rise) but this is an experiment - Winter well.
* Feed with overhead feeder.

 

[linoleum bonypart]

Great doubled up and with feeder cut out

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

The built in feeder is a pain and has been known to drown bees. Blocked mine off*

That's why I prefer the Maisie's ones

 

[Stiffy]

Great doubled up and with feeder cut out

I have cut out most of mine but still have a few to do. The ones in use, I have replaced the wooden 'float' with bits of polystyrene and not had too many problems.
S