Move from Nuc into hive or wait

[Natureboy44]

I am a new beekeeper and it looks like I have a strong nuc of bees which is very full. I was after some advice & opinions on if it would be best to get a hive now or just leave them in the nuc and get a hive in spring?

Would there be any reason not to rehouse them now?

 

[Beefriendly]

You would need to define "strong".
It's a difficult to answer question as we seem to have different definitions of strong.
I'd suggest a strong nuc is one that you are rolling bees out of as you remove the first frame. Others will have different definitions.... a photo is worth a 1000 words.

 

[Angry_Mob]

How confident are you the nuc is strong; how many frames of brood does the nuc have or are the bees tight for space? Do you have any drawn frames, particularly with stores?


What I've personally done on a few poly nucs in the past couple of weeks is add a second brood box so I'll have 6 frames over 6, those can go into full hives in spring. Feed constantly to help them get foundation drawn and stores for winter. I'd be reluctant to do the same with wood however.

If you decide to go the hive route you could use some insulation and dummy the hive down to say 8 frames and then remove it in the spring.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I am a new beekeeper and it looks like I have a strong nuc of bees which is very full. I was after some advice & opinions on if it would be best to get a hive now or just leave them in the nuc and get a hive in spring?

Would there be any reason not to rehouse them now?

Please put where in the UK you are. It helps to give appropriate advice.
As for moving a nuc into a full size hive at this year.....Hmm, maybe if you have drawn brood comb and you are somewhere clement.
If you have drawn super frames maybe put a super on top and feed? No QX of course.
I'm sure others might have a better idea

 

[Natureboy44]

Yes rolling bees out with the first frame, they're extremely active out foraging from daybreak to dark, coming in and out of the hive entrance in large numbers and there isn't room at the small nuc entrance for the high traffic coming and going, there has been a lot of bumping into each other at the entrance and getting in each others way when trying to take flight at times.

I can get a photo tomorrow.

I am in in the South East near Chelmsford so a milder part of the Country.

 

[Natureboy44]

The Queen is laying there is new and developing brood.

Looks colder for the next few days but Thursday is going to be 23c where I am, and then 19-23c for the next week according to google weather.

The nuc is a cheapish one and doesn't look the best for winter protection either.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

lets see a photo

i have a nuc which has 4/5 frames of capped brood and i am contemplating similar

 

[pargyle]

Buy a Paynes Poly Nuc in 14 x 12 size - plus a super and a top style feeder. Cut the side feeder out of the Paynes Nuc so you have space for 8 frames. (Paynes deliver in 48 hours).

Move them into the new Poly Nuc (after converting it to 8 frames) Put a frame of foundation in the middle of the brood nest and a frame of foundation at each end against the walls. Feeder on top with 1:1 syrup, change to 2:1 once the frames are all drawn (or add a gallon of invertbee to your Paynes order and use that instead of 2:1) . Clear crownboard on top of the feeder. Put the Super on top of that with at least 50mm of insulation (Kingspan/|celotex) in that to keep them cosy . Roof on top .. check through clear crown board that they are taking syrup down .. feed until they stop taking it.

They will draw out the foundation and if they are on standard national frames they will draw free comb on the bottom of the frames ..no problem - don't worry about it.

Treat for varroa if they need it .. when they've fed to capacity with 14 x 12 and 8 frames they will have plenty to get them through to spring .. Once they have finished feeding remove feeder, crownboard on top of brood box, super with insulation inside. Feel free to look through the clear crownboard as often as you like through winter but don't disturb them. It's very reassuring to look in and see how active they are with this arrangement .. even on the coldest winter days.

Cost .. about £90 + feed ~ but a lot less than a new colony of bees ...

PS: Best to paint the inside of the feeder before using it.

PPS: Bit more help ..

https://www.flickr.com/photos/125609724@N03/sets/72157659314817230

 

[Swarm]

It's a teaming nuc, put them into a dummied brood box. Give them comb as extra frames if you have them, try them on eight or nine frames for now. See how they do with the Ivy and feed accordingly, little and often.

 

[Millet]

It's a teaming nuc, put them into a dummied brood box. Give them comb as extra frames if you have them, try them on eight or nine frames for now. See how they do with the Ivy and feed accordingly, little and often.

I did exactly that with one nuc three weeks ago..it is on nine frames with a kingspan dummy board in to fill the void..they have been fed thymol syrup and are now working on a uncapped super frame above the crown board..the colony is doing well but it is too late in the year in my location to do it now.

 

[Poly Hive]

I have just looked at the 6 frame nuc I have which is full. I gave it a 2nd BB with two drawn frames and four foundation.

They have emptied the feeder, filled the drawn comb and also stored a fair bit of pollen in it and started drawing out the foundation.

Too late. Nope. In October after bringing hives back from heather I would get three foundation drawn in Langstorrth units and four in National.

Bit of time yet.

PH

 

[Millet]

I have just looked at the 6 frame nuc I have which is full. I gave it a 2nd BB with two drawn frames and four foundation.

They have emptied the feeder, filled the drawn comb and also stored a fair bit of pollen in it and started drawing out the foundation.

Too late. Nope. In October after bringing hives back from heather I would get three foundation drawn in Langstorrth units and four in National.

Bit of time yet.

PH

Too late here yip..no Heather..

 

[SDM]

A second nuc brood body is the best option. They seem to really like the tall and narrow setup for winter.
That said they'll happily draw comb in a well insulated hive for probably another month in N.wales.