Installing a nuc

[alldigging]

I'd read about asking 2 beekeeps a question and getting three answers...


I've seen it done.
I've read 3 books.
I've watched several videos.
I've read several descriptions from blogs.

I'm probably more confused than ever.
Yes I will ask the beekeep who brings my bees what they think too!



I've seen it done immediately the nuc has been bought to the new site but read about leaving them 12-24 hours to adjust to the position with the nuc in place where the proper hive will go.

I've seen video of someone mixing the frames up putting the first one in the wrong way round.

I've read (on here as well as books) to put only 3 empty frames in with the brood.

I've seen the brood filled with frames.

I've seen a super full of empty frames put on top and a feeder put on top of the crown board on top of that.

I've seen feeders and not feeders.

I've seen tons of smoke, no smoke; gloves, no gloves; I think everyone had a veil on.

Q: Do you put the QE on under the crown board? Or do you not bother with it and just be careful when taking the crown board off? Is the queen likely to go up to the feeder?

Q: Do you put a feeder on? (My neighbours bees seem really busy today so I imagine they are finding lots to eat)

Q: Do you check after a week? After 2? Does it depend how many frames you put in the brood with them?

 

[Poly Hive]

You can either leave the nuc to orientate or you can install immediately.

I have done both and canna see any odds.

So when you put your nuc in the hive I do this..

Foundation. Nuc in same order, foundation or two then dummy. I use a frame feeder as dummy.

I would not feed unless the weather is dire and as you are going to handle all the nuc frames you will have an idea of the stores they already have.

Smoke? Depends on the bees. If they are calm try not to and if they are a but restless smoke lightly.

Then leave for a week to settle.

On first inspection you are looking for eggs/young larvae to be sure the queen is ok, and also to see if they have enough room, and if needed add another two frames of foundation or comb if you have it.

Enjoy

PH

 

[oliver90owner]

The only real difference to PH is that I use a divider - it isolates the bees so heat loss is minimised.

My dividers are now insulated in-fillers I use for packing out hives for the winter. They used to be a simple piece of ply fitted to a home made top bar and a sheet of expanded polystyrene stuck at the back.

I have never ever used a feeder initially, as I make sure there is enough stores in the hive when transferring.

RAB

 

[BeeNice]

Nice simple answers to clear questions. Well done. One other thing is you don't need a QE until you have supers on, just the crown board and then roof.
regards
Steven

 

[Finman]

.
Wow wow!

Two ways to start a nuc and a third to make it with 100% succes.

1) easy way. Take a frame of bees. Another frame is food frame. Take the nuc hive 3 km away and it is ready. Then give a queen when the nuc calm down. A piece of brood included.

2) in same yard
take a frame of emerging bees in evening.
After 2 days old bees have gone to their original home and emerged bees are in the nuc.
After some days give a queen.

3) idiotic sure nuc making when you bye a laying queen
.
Make a nuc above the big hive. Screen between nuc and hive. Nuc gets heat from big hive.
Give 2 frames of emerging bees.
Shake every walking bee in front of hive.
When you make the nuc, give a laying queen into the nuc.
Stuck all holes that no bee can come out or go in.
After 3 days nuc have lots of bees. Queen is laying and accepted.
Lift the nuc to final site.
Add a week later a frame of emerging bees and shake all bees off.

Now you have about 5-frame nuc which will be full of brood .
Don't feed it!!! Give a food frame from big hive if it needs better stores.

.

 

[Nose Ma]

Then leave for a week to settle.

This I found really hard to do, it's something new and holds fascination. I suggest a clear (polycarbonate is better than glass) crownboard (or whatever you wish to call the board below the roof above the brood box) or one of those windowed brood boxes, just so you can have a peek without disturbing them too much.

L

 

[Chris Luck]

If the nuc was brought to the site I would probably leave in their existing box for a couple of days where they are going to be before transferring, then new frames on the outsides with "existing" frames in the middle in the same order. I say new frames because I only use starter strips and not foundation. I also think it's better if the transfer can take place early evening where the nuc has been sited if that's possible, then the hive closed down and brought to the new site.

I did half a dozen today that were already in the right place, bees all happy, no smoke used, all with good stores and a flow on. I'll just take a glance at them occasionally without disturbing them and check their weight going into winter.

Chris

 

[Poly Hive]

One thing that beekeeping will teach one is patience.

Do gardeners pull up their carrots to see how they are getting on? 2nd thoughts... don't answer that ...LOL

PH

 

[broandy]

poly lol carrots lol

 

[alldigging]

I've been out and looked at the box this morning. They are coming in and out ok.
It's not very warm out though so I'm hoping for some sunshine (or at least it being a bit brighter) before I put them in the hive.

 

[Finman]

I've been out and looked at the box this morning. They are coming in and out ok.
It's not very warm out though so I'm hoping for some sunshine (or at least it being a bit brighter) before I put them in the hive.

have you remembered sun and hive in the evening pray?

 

[alldigging]

have you remembered sun and hive in the evening pray?

I like the sun! It's much nicer to go pinching peas off my allotment in the sun!

Well they've been done now.
just before it rained. probably could have waited ( a bit later tonight) or til tomorrow or the next day but there's thunder forecast for tomorrow and heavy rain for the rest of the week...

It was done quickly and hopefully smoothly. I've not put the hive entrance thing on yet as there were too many bees going in and out and I didn't want to squash any so I will go back in a bit and put it on.