nuc hive/box

[Motobiman]

well that must have been some question I asked lol,,,,,I am really playing devils avocate but it is great to hear from everyone. As I have said in an earlier thread...its amazing how there are a 100 ways of doing things differently but all seem to get very similar results.

The bees might have something to do with it too.

 

[user 6228]

Finman is right. OP (and others, seemingly) need to understand the meaning of 'nucleus colony'. Then they would not need to ask questions about 'nucleus hives' as it would (or should) be simple to understand how they fit into the beekeeping craft.

A nucleus hive is for homing a nucleus colony. Nothing more and nothing less. They are not big enough for full sized colonies, although a 6 frame Jumbo Langstroth is not far off the size of a National deep box. People who advocate putting out single nuc boxes as bait hives are too inexperienced to call themselves proper beekeepers. As Finman tates, they are playing, not thinking before acting.

My bait hives, of 6 frames 14 x 12 plus a shallow box, might be regarded by these inexperienced posters as a 'nuc bait hive', but the obvious difference is the size of the cavity - it being bigger than a National deep.

Edited to add that it would clearly be less sh****y, less boring and more informative without the above inexperienced poster here. A good bye bye to him.

2 x 20 = 40 is sinful heresy when the catholic arithmetic says 1 x 40 is the only true way to reach the holy number of litres.
Burn all the heretics that dare put an additional box on their nucleus hive. Double nucs are the spawn of the devil, cast them in to the same pit as those who transgress with a brood and a half.
Blessed are those the follow the true teaching of the prophets Langstroth and Wedmore, peace and matchsticks be upon them

 

[Finman]

2 x 20 = 40 is sinful heresy

Double nucs are the spawn of the devil, cast them in to the same pit as those who transgress with a brood and a half.
Ble

I have aprofessional friend. Hi backbone has been surgered at the age on 30. Since then he has useed mere mediums. There are lots of beekeepers, to whom langstroth us too heavy. Now he is 74.

That friend says that colony over winter better in two half mediums than in one medium

i use half boxes so that first I have a nuc. Then I take the queen to the big hive, and I join the nuc to another. And the result is double nuc.

From Hell or not, but double nuc is very practical.
Heaven seldom helps in these things, except sending rains...

But I try to build whole box over winterers. Nucs have difficulties to start brooding in Spring. Small us not beautifull. It is easier to rear a whole box colony in late summer than in cold Spring weather.
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[Anduril]

Has Motobiman been a naughty boy? One of his posts appears to have been ignored by the powers that be. Received as email but it isn't here.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

wouldn't surprise me - nothing but abuse seems to have been posted by the binman in the last 24 hours

 

[chrisb]

I dug out my tin hat and some spare sand bags !!!!

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Has Motobiman been a naughty boy? One of his posts appears to have been ignored by the powers that be. Received as email but it isn't here.

Perhaps this explains it? http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showpost.php?p=551980&postcount=15

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Bees are well used to tall thin insulated cavities... making it out of poly nuc boxes wont bother the bees.
However,
They may not behave exactly as they would in squat hives. But finding out will be fun.

I overwintered a colony in a double-brood poly nuc this year. Fantastic outcome. Only thing to note was the top feeder was full of condensation by the end of winter. CLARIFICATION ADDED: feeder in side of top brood box
ADD Bought three more (Paynes poly) nuc brood boxes on the strength of it.

 

[user 6228]

I overwintered a colony in a double-brood poly nuc this year. Fantastic outcome. Only thing to note was the top feeder was full of condensation by the end of winter.
ADD Bought three more (Paynes poly) nuc brood boxes on the strength of it.

fluid dynamics and honeybees agree then!

 

[BeeJayBee]

a few question about nucs since a lot of beekeeper tend to quote them when replying in the forum.... 1. why a nuc rather than a full size hive?. 2. are they more inclined to swarm(being that they are small spaced)?. 3,do you get a honey harvest ?.....all points of view are most welcome and appreciated

p.s. and anything else that would be helpful

I use Jumbo Langstroths, which use the same frames as a Dadant hive, just about. All my boxes are poly.

I have several nucleus hives that take this size frame, each one will take six frames (the full hive will take ten frames). The smaller box is suitable for splits and for swarms.

The colony living inside a nucleus box is more often called a nucleus colony because it should grow bigger, and need to be moved into a full sized hive. But ...

I have additional brood chambers, supers and feeders for my nucleus hives and have kept large colonies in them. I'm not sure if this is so easily achieved with standard national frames in a five or six framed nuc box because I think it's probably too small, which is why people use additional brood chambers and supers.

 

[Finman]

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I have trued medium Langstroths in wintering. But I am not satisfied with build up of spring.

There 3 cm gap inside of early brood area, and bees mist keep it warm.

 

[oliver90owner]

I'm not sure if this is so easily achieved with standard national frames in a five or six framed nuc box


Ha ha, ever seen some of the towers of supers on hives on the forum? If only nuc cross section boxes were used, they would fall over, or be unreachable without scaffolding

Usual double brooded National might nedd 4 boxes high before any supers!

I've overwintered bees in two poly 14 x 12 nucs before now. Works a treat. Less floor space, but too tall unless secured well.

 

[dannygolf1959]

so can I ask,,,,how many of you people keep nucs

 

[user 6228]

...
I've overwintered bees in two poly 14 x 12 nucs before now. Works a treat. Less floor space, but too tall unless secured well.
...

Guy ropes work well when the stack is over a metre high and the base is less than 300mm

 

[Teemore]

so can I ask,,,,how many of you people keep nucs

I "keep" Nucs in the sense that I make up some Nucs for the purpose of getting some new queens mated and for increase. I help colonies in Nucs to build up during the current season and transfer them into full boxes. I also try to overwinter a few Nucs to cover potential winter losses and to be able to give a colony or two to beginning beekeepers. I don't keep Nucs long term, their purpose is only to temporarily house a growing colony until such time as it is ready to be moved into bigger accomodation. They are part of colony/apiary management.

 

[Finman]

so can I ask,,,,how many of you people keep nucs

I think that every beekeeper keep nucs. It is essential part of beekeeping.

I know, that many have a colony in normal box, even if it should be in a nuc according the size of colony.

You can make a nuc to normal box with dummy board.

And now I realized that I must take 3 frames off from one small hive and put a dummy board instead.
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[maddydog]

I "keep" Nucs in the sense that I make up some Nucs for the purpose of getting some new queens mated and for increase. I help colonies in Nucs to build up during the current season and transfer them into full boxes. I also try to overwinter a few Nucs to cover potential winter losses and to be able to give a colony or two to beginning beekeepers. I don't keep Nucs long term, their purpose is only to temporarily house a growing colony until such time as it is ready to be moved into bigger accomodation. They are part of colony/apiary management.

As short a time as possible. A frame or two of emerging brood from very strong colonies and a nuc will soon grow into a full hive unless there is a problem with the queen or forage

 

[dannygolf1959]

I only hive 2 hives (colonies) and don't have the room for more so I don't see the need for a nuc going by everyones explanation

 

[user 6228]

We now have a colony now in stack of 3 Nuc Brood boxes to overwinter.
In this case the Nuc Boxes are 6 Frame made out of 50mm PIR for the long sides and 50mm +30mm for the short frame supporting sides. Solid underfloor entrance and 50mm roof. Well strapped together and down to steel stand and the stand weighted with concrete.
We will see what happens

 

[Cussword]

so can I ask,,,,how many of you people keep nucs

I currently have two nucs, if any of my three hived colonies seem weak this autumn I'll unite them with one of the nucs. If not I shall try to over Winter them in case of any Winter losses in the hived colonies.


Or, if SWMBO does not notice, buy a couple more poly hives.

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