building -up a Nucleus

[Finman]

I can't quite believe this "less air to keep warm" argument; that would only work if the dummy board formed a completely air-tight barrier from the top (crown board) down the sides of the brood box. It could be open at the bottom but, unless there were no gaps anyway else, the air would simply convect around and the bees would still end up heating the same air volume as if it weren't there.

After 47 years xperience you are 100% wrong. This is not believing question.

I think the advantage of a dummy board is to keep the majority of bees from spreading themselves

They are not spreaded. They are in one cluster and the extra frames are without bees.

too thinly across multiple frames of foundation; we want them to finish one frame to a state ready for laying, rather than 3 frames a little bit, none of which the queen can yet use.

EH! You are the boss!


When the hive is small, the problem is not queen laying. It is how much the colony has nurser bees. One thing is, how the summer fills combs and how much frames have brood area.

I have many 3 frame mating nucs. We have had now here 30C temp and I keep all closed in nucs and only 2 cm x4 cm entering. The bees takes care of ventilation. Nights are +20C.

 

[Firegazer]

I guess 47 years wins it against my 11 (months!). Just trying to help, I'll get my coat . . .

MM - I went to the same place and did Physics, with a little bit of all sorts. Cracking time. We should start an Alumni Beekeeping group and send them loads of random newsletters

FG

 

[madasafish]

Same ,except for me its 42 years

Ditto. Physics specialising in maths and particle physics..

I've gone up in the world since keeping bees...

 

[Beeline]

Thought this would be the most appropriate thread for my newbee questions.

I'm eagerly awaiting arrival of my first nuc (Buckfast) and been doing some reading up. Mr Hooper recommends the practice of 'spreading' brood frames to encourage egg laying. I've spoken to a work colleague (a frenchman - I work in France) who is an experienced beekeeper, who does not know of Tim Hooper for obvious reasons but his first response was - this man must be really old as 'spreading' was something practiced back in the 50-60's!! Do any of you have strong views for or against 'spreading'. Should I simply leave them to get on with it uninterrupted? Any other ideas?

Also, as I'm getting them late May should I consider feeding them with a 1:1 solution asap to boost production?

Lastly, the v experienced beekeeper I am buying them from said it would be folly for me to run them on a single brood (National) system once established - he advocates a double brood. Again, views would be gratefully accepted.

BL

 

[Poly Hive]

A good beekeeper will know how to spread brood safely and so push on the colony's development faster than it would by it's self.

However it is seemingly not a practice that is taught, so possibly not so many who should know about it actually do.

Read all the posts bewailing that their bees are store/honey bound and what to do about it.

I was going to write a piece on the hows and wherefores but for safetys sake decided not to as some will get is so very wrong and harm their charges.

PH