Nuc boxes no good for bait hives

[666bees]

Have other people found this. Swarm arrive yesterday, settled in, checked this moring and they have all gone. Can only think it was the size of the box. Have put a full size bood box in its place now. Some bees are about and showing interest but I doubt any swarm will come as it's alot cooler today.

So newbees beware as its very frustrating.

 

[greatbritishhoney]

I've often put nuc boxes out as bait hives, just on the basis that it's better than leaving them taking up space in the shed, but I've never had a single swarm take up residence.
Too small for a prime swarm.

 

[Nellie]

Picked up a swarm in our national nuc. Happily covered 4 frames once they'd settled and were drawing out comb in the remaining space.

Did pick up a prime swarm the other week that comfortably filled a full sized national box so depends on the size of the swarm.

 

[Gardenbees]

Title is correct... too small! Only suitable for a small cast swarm, and then not perfect. The only one I've used for a swarm was one of Paynes' 6-frame poly nucs, which are quite large and OK for a small to medium cast. For bait, a nice, spacious residence, smelling of brood, is more likely to appeal to the bees.

They are right to choose wisely: a prime swarm will usually get going like a train when housed. The one I caught in April went into a 14x12 broodbox and needed a super within a couple of weeks.

 

[Poly Hive]

Three swarms arrived into my poly nuc boxes this year and nice used brood box hive as bait, totally ignored.... bees do nothing invariably as mentioned a few times on here...LOL

PH

 

[Gardenbees]

... bees do nothing invariably as mentioned a few times on here...LOL

... Except confound beekeepers!

 

[BKF Admin]

I have sometimes found at the end of swarm season that no matter how often you hive a swarm they will be out day after day.

Its as if they are in panic mode rather than swarm mode.

 

[For want of a better word]

Three swarms arrived into my poly nuc boxes this year and nice used brood box hive as bait, totally ignored.... bees do nothing invariably as mentioned a few times on here...LOL

PH

Fussy or what... crammed to gunnels in an old Robert Lee 5 framed nuc box with old brood comb
Totally ignored more suitable accomodation

{MAYBEE the BAIT SAUSAGE??}

 

[Mike a]

I disagree nucs are too small, if they like the nuc they will move in even if they are too big to all fit in. Last year I had 2 swarms move into 4 & 5 frame national nucs, this year 3 swarms.

Lemongrass oil will attract the bees (importantly scouts) for this topic but 2-3 year old brood comb is the key to improving your chances.

If I get a swarm the frame of old comb is removed and placed in another nuc ready to go again, thankfully never had a swarm abscond yet.

 

[BeeNice]

Had a few swarms this year, but I have found the advise by the BBKA mag is really good, setup they recommend is empty super on a floor (I used a solid one) brood box with frames and crown board, roof. The idea is that the bees are looking for a open space which the empty super is and then they go up to the frames. I have hived 2 swarms this year in this set up and they both stayed. With just brood box and frames I've found its 50/50 whether they stay or not.
regards
Steven

 

[onriver]

I'd agree about the old brood comb - anyone know why?
I wonder how that fits in with 'natural' colonies in tree trunks - why would scouts look for abandoned sites to move into? Offset lingering disease risk against tried and tested sites??

 

[Winker]

Three swarms arrived into my poly nuc boxes this year and nice used brood box hive as bait, totally ignored.... bees do nothing invariably as mentioned a few times on here...LOL

PH

I had one arive in my Pay*es Poly Nuc yesterday. Going to have a peek today see if they are still there. There was only 3 frames of foundation in it. No lemon grass no old brood frames

 

[BKF Admin]

Foundation is old comb,its just been cleaned and rolled