Multi Nuc

[For want of a better word]

I saw a multi nuc being used in Sweden some years ago

Based on a ? Langstroths "super" a box was separated into 4 separate sections, each with a surper frame feeder and two full frames. Each section has an entrance with a removable queen excluder.... and a champagne cork to block in
I can not recall if the floor was 8 guage mesh OR I think it was queen excluder, that allowed the bees in the full colony that is was place on to freely move among the "Banked" queens.

Any ideas... from the experienced bee breeders please in wonderful forumland??

Yeghes da

 

[bpmurray]

Something like this? http://www.irishbeesupplies.com/Multi-Breeding_Nuc/p1800428_13874888.aspx

 

[BMH]

Lovely design!

 

[For want of a better word]

Similar idea... but had standard sized frames... and fitted directly on top of a colony.
I think the floor was made from queen excluder type slots, not 8 guage... worker bees could move freely amongst queens and queen holding 4 way split top..... I think there was a solid plate that could be inserted to cut off colony and each 2 frames had its own closeable entrance.

Was in the good old days of Kodachrome.. so have a slide of it somewhere!

Yeghes da
I suppose I could make one and try?

 

[domino]

I think they call this a queen castle in the US.

http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/Queen-Castle/productinfo/687/

If this was made in a national I'd buy one.

 

[Motobiman]

The Dave Cushman website talks another a four way topboard for putting nucs on top of a hive but I haven't fully read though it to understanding the whys and wherefors yet.

 

[chrisb]

I think they call this a queen castle in the US.

http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/Queen-Castle/productinfo/687/

If this was made in a national I'd buy one.

Yep queen castle. there is the full frame and a 4 way half frame type

little vid on the full frame
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdBfe-fIWlw&list=PLe2H02YjUFnG20--qJCwwoFgDokxrdnpq&index=2

and MP with his 4 way
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA3yiNoAh4o&list=PLe2H02YjUFnH25dyJWsR9DsWr7Qe8LwU5&index=3

full frame are building nucs with half frame seen as mating nucs

 

[enrico]

Love the full frame ones. Nice idea! Might give one a go next year! Thanks.
E

 

[chrisb]

love em, this is a 4 frame 2 way
https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=3260670eea8743d2ef958f7b4d2b03da&oe=57C9A61F

 

[Finman]

I saw a multi nuc being used in Sweden some years ago

Based on a ? Langstroths "super" a box was separated into 4 separate sections, each with a surper frame feeder and two full frames. Each section has an entrance with a removable queen excluder...

Yeghes da

I have used those 30 years . Losses of queens were very big, about 20-30%.
Now I have solitary poly nucs and that kind of losses are away.

Nothing good in them.

I have explained that some time ago.

 

[For want of a better word]

I have used those 30 years . Losses of queens were very big, about 20-30%.
Now I have solitary poly nucs and that kind of losses are away.

Nothing good in them.

I have explained that some time ago.

But were the floors that fitted on top of the brood box and colony below open mesh (8guage) or queen excluder slot size???
I am not really looking for queen banking in the usual sense.

Yeghes da

 

[chrisb]

all the ones i have seen have only got mesh as the floors there is nothing between bottom brood and further boxes. they are treated as 4 separate colonies.

have a look at Don explaining them

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p68phQq_gnI

 

[Finman]

But were the floors that fitted on top of the brood box and colony below open mesh (8guage) or queen excluder slot size???
I am not really looking for queen banking in the usual sense.

Yeghes da

It makes no sense to use mesh floor in those nucs, or in nucs at all.

 

[Finman]

.
The problem is that when you load those nucs with virgins, they peep there calling each other to fight. Often only one is left out of four.


But pals. You just try. When you loose in the " castle " virgins, the reason is that they kill each others.
.

 

[Motobiman]

It makes no sense to use mesh floor in those nucs, or in nucs at all.

So what types of floor did you try below the nucs?

 

[Motobiman]

all the ones i have seen have only got mesh as the floors there is nothing between bottom brood and further boxes. they are treated as 4 separate colonies.

have a look at Don explaining them

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p68phQq_gnI

Are we not looking at two different things here?

The OP describes four boxes on top of a main colony with passage possible for the nurses and foragers up and down if QE is used between them.

The queen castle Don describes is four seperate queen rearing areas in one box with bees shaken in.

 

[Anduril]

But were the floors that fitted on top of the brood box and colony below open mesh (8guage) or queen excluder slot size???
I am not really looking for queen banking in the usual sense.

Yeghes da

Are you referring to the Morris board with the queen excluder?

 

[Motobiman]

Are you referring to the Morris board with the queen excluder?

I think you may be right.

Cushman describes the use of 'two frame Nucs' and various boards to 'stack' them up but i don't see the Morris board mentioned that has QE used.

 

[user 6228]

what advantages are these items seeking?

1. lower cost
2. warmth
3. ease of use

Of these i can can expertly comment on the aspect of warmth. I can safely state you can easily achieve the same or better results with insulation and changes in dimensions.

Putting multiple small colonies in close proximity has the potential for the disadvantages of:

1. Reduced biosecurity
2. Queen- queen conflict
3. worker - worker conflict

as to quantifying the above disadvantages, i'm not your man.

 

[Anduril]

what advantages are these items seeking?

1. lower cost
2. warmth
3. ease of use

Of these i can can expertly comment on the aspect of warmth. I can safely state you can easily achieve the same or better results with insulation and changes in dimensions.

Putting multiple small colonies in close proximity has the potential for the disadvantages of:

1. Reduced biosecurity
2. Queen- queen conflict
3. worker - worker conflict

as to quantifying the above disadvantages, i'm not your man.

Using the Morris board you do not have those disadvantages, since you are transferring frames from the brood box below and placing them above the Morris board, same stock. Inducing emergency cells by closing the Morris board for up to 48 hours, then opening up to promote supersedure.