First nuc.

[sandysman]

Hi folks,
We have just taken possession of our first nuc. The nuc is on six frames and has some work to do before it fills the National brood body. The chap I bought them from, a member of our local Beekeeping Society and well thought of, has told me that the bees may well take the rest of the season to build up to a full hive, as I will be inserting new foundation and no drawn comb, (11 frames). If that is so, am I right in thinking that there will be little chance of any honey this season, as I understood that I should only put the super on when the brood body was full?
Thanks in anticipation.
Sandysman

 

[oliver90owner]

Sorry, I don't have a genie in an old lamp to tell me the answer.

No location given makes it even harder to make a prediction.

Also depends what you might call 'any'.

 

[CB008]

I took in a minature swarm mid May last year with a virgin queen who took 3 weeks to come into lay. I offered them only foundation. I still managed 14lbs of honey and could have got more but wanted to leave them some. I suppose it will depend on where you live and what weather we have. They should have drawn all of the frames before you need a super. I fed mine initially to get them going and was surprised hwo quickly they filled up the hive.

 

[huntsman666]

Getting them at this time of year means you have a fair chance of getting honey. I'd suggest you put a super on at the end of June.

Also give them 2:1 syrup for the next two weeks as they will have a lot of wax to produce. They'll take it down if they decide they want it.

However your main focus should be on building them up into a strong colony to face the winter.

 

[oliver90owner]

2:1 feed? They almost surely will take it down and fill up the comb. Just like in autumn, I would think.

 

[huntsman666]

They'll need it now to produce wax.

You'll feed again in the autumn.

 

[Ambodach]

Ahh - it's how you ask the question obviously as I asked the virtually the same question last week and didn't get any helpful answers.

Now I know that I need to feed for 2 weeks, that they will take what they want ("on-demand" feeding) and that I should super at the end of this month. I've kept bees for 40 years but hadn't ever had to deal with an off-the-shelf nuc before.

Many thanks Sandyman for getting the answers I was looking for.

Rob

 

[oliver90owner]

Ambodach,

You may have got the answer that you want but that is not necessarily the one you should adopt. I don't feed them unless they need it. Full stop.

RAB

 

[MJBee]

When installing a 6 frame Nuc in a National or any other sized brood box I only give them two extra frames of foundation, one either side, and use a dummy board to block off the spare space. To build up quickly the bees need to be able to keep the brood warm so restrict the space they have to heat.

I feed 1:1 syrup but only about 1 pint every 3 or 4 days. As soon as the two frames of foundation are drawn I add the final 3 frames and continue light feeding until all frames are drawn.

When there is brood (eggs, larvae, sealed worker) on both sides of 7 or 8 frames then add a super. Not before, as you are adding another 50% of space to be heated.

You will find as you gain experience that there is a very fine line for optimum build up:- Too much space = slow build up as there are not enough bees to heat it. Too little space = crowding, not enough space for the queen to lay and bees go into swarm mode. It's a challenge - enjoy

 

[susbees]

Nice post MJB....that's the policy we're adopting here. Dropping the odd pint in every few days if they seem to need it seems closer to a "natural" flow. Having polycarb quilts is excellent as you can see what's drawn, size of the evening cluster etc which coupled with what's going in the door and the general mood makes me feel more in touch with what's going on without disturbing hives that are building up unduly.

Bees have been starving in this part of the world recently so makes sense to me. With the full colonies only feeding one lightly which decided to ditch loads of drones.

 

[sandysman]

Thanks for all the replies folks.
Re the location, my bees are on the Notts/Derbs boarder. I did put a feed on when I brought them home + two frames of foundation + a dummy board. However, I did not place a frame of foundation either side of the existing frames but both on together. I have drawn comb on 1 to 6 and foundation on 7 and 8 then the dummy board at 9. (If that makes sense).
All bees were out and about collecting pollen last night and today. I have also reduced the entrance as suggested in most of the books I have read. I intend to check them out again next wed.

Thanks once again

Sandysman

 

[sandysman]

Thanks MJB for the reply.
Re the location, my bees are on the Notts/Derbs boarder. I did put a feed on when I brought them home + two frames of foundation + a dummy board. However, I did not place a frame of foundation either side of the existing frames but both on together. I have drawn comb on 1 to 6 and foundation on 7 and 8 then the dummy board at 9. (If that makes sense).
All bees were out and about collecting pollen last night and today. I have also reduced the entrance as suggested in most of the books I have read. I intend to check them out again next wed.

Thanks once again

Sandysman