How to build up from mini nuc?

[Alabamaeee]

I have the offer of a mated queen in a mini nuc.

Stupid question probably, but I assume a mini nuc would not survive over winter on it's own, hence my idea of re-hiving into a poly 14 X 12 nuc for next year.

What would I have to add to give it a good chance of overwintering?

I am thinking more nurse bees to help in a bigger nuc box, but then the little colony in the mini nuc may fight with them, as I believe the Q is now laying.

 

[sugarbush]

Transfer it and then winter it on top of one of your other hives with a double screen board in between them.

 

[Hivemaker.]

I have the offer of a mated queen in a mini nuc.

Stupid question probably, but I assume a mini nuc would not survive over winter on it's own, hence my idea of re-hiving into a poly 14 X 12 nuc for next year.

What would I have to add to give it a good chance of overwintering?

I am thinking more nurse bees to help in a bigger nuc box, but then the little colony in the mini nuc may fight with them, as I believe the Q is now laying.

Make up a 14x12 nuc if thats the size you use,introduce queen and shake out bees from mini nuc in front of made up five frame nuc.

Yes you can certainly over winter a mini nuc.

 

[gavin]

Yes you can certainly over winter a mini nuc.

Do you have any tips for doing so? Apart from moving them to Devon of course ...

I was considering moving 5-frame Apideas in pairs with fondant-filled feeders into poly national boxes. I had thought of placing them over poly National floors but maybe over a strong hive would be better.b

 

[Poly Hive]

I fear that needs more thought Gavin.

Bernard considered taking them into winter to be futile.

PH

 

[gavin]

Now there's a challenge! This was just to try out after the late-season success with Apideas (I wish) and far too many mated Amm queens to know what to do with of course! May never happen.

 

[Hivemaker.]

Do you have any tips for doing so? Apart from moving them to Devon of course

You would be most welcome to move them down here of course Gavin,but your method of having a top eke full of feed and having them strong and well insulated is all i do,but of course your Scottish winters are much more harsh.
The Kielier type mini nucs over winter very well indeed,but best to also include some kind of nosema treatment in the late autumn feed...the tiny colonys are very prone to getting nosema.

 

[drstitson]

you say you have (approx) 4 colonies - I'd make up a nuc with a frame of brood and bees from each. leave 24 hrs then introduce queen in a cage as per normal.

 

[RogueDrone]

I was going to raise this question myself I have 4 apideas that have mated queens .just started laying how do you transfere to nuc ? Was thinking of pinching seal brood and stores from mature hives to give kicck start would this work?

Don't wish to pinch thread but as we are on same subject not starting seperate.

Colin

 

[Hivemaker.]

leave 24 hrs then introduce queen in a cage as per normal.

No need to leave 24 hours if using bees and brood from 3 colonys or more,they don't fight at all, and will welcome a new queen within one hour,tiny bit of feed in introduction cage so they can eat her out within an hour or two at most.

 

[RosieMc]

Was thinking of pinching seal brood and stores from mature hives to give kicck start would this work?


Colin

Make sure you have enough bees to keep the brood warm. If you have too much brood to too few bees, the brood could get chilled and die off especially if the weather turns cool.

 

[m100]

It's difficult, but I think Ron Brown got some through winter using a wooden national nuc box as a 'WBC' lift

I removed a feral colony last May - it barely occupied an Apidea with a super - 10 frames (certainly not enough for a national nuc) I didn't feed them other than a single fill of a top feeder with fondant. I migrated them (on a modified crownboard) into a 14x12 over the course of the summer. I fed them syrup during September. They are now on two 14 x 12's (after an artificial swarm) with a couple of near full supers.

 

[RogueDrone]

Make sure you have enough bees to keep the brood warm. If you have too much brood to too few bees, the brood could get chilled and die off especially if the weather turns cool.

Hope to move frames with bees on them from good strong hives brood from one feed from another+ bees from Apideaso just 3 frame nuc to start. what do you think?

 

[Poly Hive]

For amusement I built up a mini to a full colony four years ago.

I made a "super" out of floormate insulation to hold three super frames and got the queen up there to lay, once that was going well I put on a 2nd "super" same as the first and when that too was going well I put a nuc on top and off we went.

PH

 

[Hebeegeebee]

I overwintered a couple of 'big' mini-nucs this size last year (7 frames on 7 frames I think) and previously I overwintered one with 9 frames the size as shown in the picture. 140 x 140 mm. It was in a shed with an entrance tunnel. In all cases they were very close to not surviving - food the main issue - but they did get through.

Hivemaker - sorry about the quality of constuction! Not up to your standards I'm sure.

 

[sugarbush]

I overwintered a couple of 'big' mini-nucs this size last year (7 frames on 7 frames I think) and previously

I am curious as to why the front of the nuc is recessed in about an inch? What is the benefit of doing this?