Nuc To Hive Dilemma.

[Millet]

I have these two nucs that are bursting with bees but 50/50 whether to hive them or not at this time of the year...the one with the eke is on eight frames and fairly packed..the other is on six frames with a laying Queen made on 28th July..the other the 13 July..
What would you experienced folk do as I am new to over wintering nucs..
Sorry for the picture Quality..it was taken through a clear crown board with light shine..

Edit to add just spotted the Queen on the top bars in the six frame Nuc.

 

[Erichalfbee]

The eight frame is fine to go in a full size hive.
If you don’t have drawn brood frames ( I always keep a stock in the freezer), I would put one frame of foundation in the middle of the brood and feed. You can move the other two, one by one, into the middle every week or ten days.
The other six frame, I have one like that. I am putting another brood on top and feeding them. They are on old manky frames so hopefully they will draw the box, fill it with stores and be up there in the spring.
It’s what I would do
Others will be different I guess

 

[Walrus]

Depends what you want. I want my nucs to stay as nucs so what I do is move frames of brood around from strong nuc to weaker one. If they were absolutely boiling over with bees you could swap positions with a weaker nuc.

But if you want hives they can go in hives as Erichalfbee says.

 

[Millet]

You have give me an idea Dani.. i will plonk the eight frame Nuc into a brood box and then put the six frame nuc into the eight frame nuc with the eke..i have plenty of spare drawn comb so it should work... i don't like over wintering nucs though i much prefare a single national brood box..

 

[Ian123]

Move them up and force them to expand keep a slow feed little and often and pretty much as Eric suggests

 

[Lancs Lad]

I have these two nucs that are bursting with bees but 50/50 whether to hive them or not at this time of the year...the one with the eke is on eight frames and fairly packed..the other is on six frames with a laying Queen made on 28th July..the other the 13 July..
What would you experienced folk do as I am new to over wintering nucs..
Sorry for the picture Quality..it was taken through a clear crown board with light shine..

Edit to add just spotted the Queen on the top bars in the six frame Nuc.

I take a good few 8 frame nucs in paynes boxes through winter each year with no trouble. If you have some spare drawn frames you could buy another Paynes nuc brood box and take it through winter six over six , I'm taking 9 through winter in that configuration.

 

[citrus]

Depends what you want. I want my nucs to stay as nucs so what I do is move frames of brood around from strong nuc to weaker one. If they were absolutely boiling over with bees you could swap positions with a weaker nuc.

But if you want hives they can go in hives as Erichalfbee says.

Interesting you are holding back nucs like this ... is that as its easier to transport nuc's around for selling or for moving to different locations ?

 

[drex]

I try to take 5-6 nucs through winter with current year queens. I do this in my home made wooden nucs, 5 or 6 frame. I put them in one block with celotex insulation round and plastic over the top. I have not had a problem getting any through winter. Yes, in early spring I often add an eke and fondant. I then use them as Michael Palmers brood factories to boost my production colonies ( this keeps them " nucs sized" ) , and I have a ready supply of queens to insure against failure of main colonies over winter.

 

[Walrus]

Interesting you are holding back nucs like this ... is that as its easier to transport nuc's around for selling or for moving to different locations ?

Same as Drex for my Langstroth nucs - they are in poly boxes and go through winter nicely (brood factories & back up resource). This year I also have a load of National nucs which I’m selling next year. They have to stay as nucs because I don’t have any National hives!

 

[Gilberdyke John]

A beginner friend of mine has a 6 frame nuc I donated to her with 4 frames of brood and 2 frames of foundation a few weeks ago. It expanded rapidly so last weekend it had brood on all 6 frames and crammed with bees. During the week she visited Abelo and bought a polyhive package with floor, brood box, 2 supers, crownboard and roof. Today I went over and transferred the populated frames into the new brood box along with frames of foundation. There's plenty of time for the colony to draw the foundation although if they are slow we'll encourage them with a feeder.
I should mention she's within yards of the riverbank which is a ribbon of Himalayan Balsam and during the manipulation almost every returning forager had the trademark pollen on its back. Judging by the extent of the Balsam they'll have lots to work on for quite some time yet.
The supers have been put away until next year

 

[Poly Hive]

With some judicious feeding, they will draw that foundation out no bother. See ITLD's post on feeding post heather. But it will help greatly if you put the foundation in the middle of the brood.

PH

 

[Ian123]

It also helps to carry on with late inspections on these smaller hives and work empty frames/foundation into the centre. For me in my area they will carry on drawing and taking syrup until we get some decent frosts. But even after that if the weather improves after a cold snap they will again take syrup and draw foundation.

 

[Millet]

Done and just as well..these Queens have definitely not gone of laying and the bees have been piling the Himalayan Balsam in..

 

[jeff33]

I had to move 2 5 over 5 nucs into 6 over 6 polynuc as they were bursting with bees. I want to overwinter them that way. I will need to re-assess next week just to make sure they don't swarm as one of them had a couple of cells with eggs in. Could be nothing but rather be safe than sorry.