Nucleus transfer.

[reigate]

I would like some advice on transferring a 6 frame nucleus to a National brood box.

 

[Millet]

I would like some advice on transferring a 6 frame nucleus to a National brood box.

The only advice i can give is wait till the weather warms up at the back end of April (my location) .
When the weather has warmed up move the Nuc from its original spot to one side..then place a full size hive brood box with floor on the spot where the Nuc was..after that move all the frames from the Nuc two at a time into the centre of the new hive the same way they come out of the nuc..after that check that the Queen is not in the nuc and turn it upside down over the new hive and shake the remaining bees into the new hive..when you have done that fill the remaining space with drawn or undrawn frames of foundation..put the crown board and roof on and leave them alone for a couple of weeks..also leave the empty nuc a few metre's away so any bees left in there can find there way into the new hive..

 

[Curly green fingers]

I would like some advice on transferring a 6 frame nucleus to a National brood box.

Is this nuc in its intended position already? Or are you buying one? an over wintered nuc( with entrance or a nuc in a box ( no entrance).?
Can I have a few more details please...
Cheers
Mark.

 

[reigate]

I am purchasing a 6 frame overwintered nuc.

 

[Poly Hive]

When are you expecting to take possession?

PH

 

[reigate]

Late April/early May.

 

[Millet]

Its easy peazy lemon squeezy..you will have nothing to worry about i am sure.. ..just do the same i typed previously..

 

[Angry_Mob]

In addition to what Millet wrote I'd feed the new hive a bit of sugar syrup to get the few frames of foundation drew out quicker and give them a slight boost.

 

[Curly green fingers]

Late April/early May.

I suppose you will be collecting it via a car journey ?

If so put your nuc in its position in your apairy but leave the entrance blocked if this is in the morning leave them alone , and remove the entrance in the afternoon. if in the afternoon I would leave them settle over night and then remove the entrance in the morning. Others might do this differently but this is what I do and it gives them time to settle down after any journey.

I would then leave them for a further 48hrs before moving them into a new brood box , obviously weather dependent if longer don't worry .

I would do the next part between 12-2pm you will have less bee's in the nuc as the foraging bee's will be out collecting forage . Smoke them it's up to you personal preference I'm afraid read the bee's.
I don't always.
Open up your brood box take your extra frames out open up the nuc, you can put your frames in the centre or to one side it doesn't really matter as long as they go in the brood box together as they we're in the nuc .
I've found that putting all six frames against the left side of the brood box wall and then the frames of foundation/comb to the right better .
If there self spacing frames Hoffman's then I put a plastic bee space board in first then put the first frame in next to this then remove the bee space board I then add the remaining frames individually to check the queen's there , stores and brood.
before you add the frames of foundation/comb you need to turn the nuc upsidedown and tape the nuc on the bottom to make sure all the bee's are in the new brood box the same with the floor if it's not attached , add your extra frames, crown board and roof done.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

When transporting the nuc make sure the frames in the nuc are oriented in the direction of travel ie, parallel with the sides of your vehicle.
Once you get to the apiary, put the nuc in it's intended position and give them five minutes to settle before opening up - full hive/nuc no matter , the same applies.
You don't need to wait an age before hiving them although I would give them a little time to get oriented before doing the transfer ten minutes, half an hour.
I like to put my nuc colonies to one side of a full hive so that the bees have only one side of new foundation to work on rather than splitting their workforce and working both sides of the cluster. - usually, one frame of foundation - nuc, then fill the rest of the hive with foundation.

 

[Hivemaker.]

When transporting the nuc make sure the frames in the nuc are oriented in the direction of travel ie, parappel with the sides of your vehicle.
Once you get to the apiary, put the nuc in it's intended position and give them five minutes to settle before opening up - full hive/nuc no matter , the same applies.
You don't need to wait an age before hiving them although I would give them a little time to get oriented before doing the transfer ten minutes, half an hour.
I like to put my nuc colonies to one side of a full hive so that the bees have only one side of new foundation to work on rather than splitting their workforce and working both sides of the cluster. - usually, one frame of foundation - nuc, then fill the rest of the hive with foundation.

Good advice.

 

[Eyeman]

I suppose you will be collecting it via a car journey ?

If so put your nuc in its position in your apairy but leave the entrance blocked if this is in the morning leave them alone , and remove the entrance in the afternoon. if in the afternoon I would leave them settle over night and then remove the entrance in the morning. Others might do this differently but this is what I do and it gives them time to settle down after any journey.

I would then leave them for a further 48hrs before moving them into a new brood box , obviously weather dependent if longer don't worry .

I would do the next part between 12-2pm you will have less bee's in the nuc as the foraging bee's will be out collecting forage . Smoke them it's up to you personal preference I'm afraid read the bee's.
I don't always.
Open up your brood box take your extra frames out open up the nuc, you can put your frames in the centre or to one side it doesn't really matter as long as they go in the brood box together as they we're in the nuc .
I've found that putting all six frames against the left side of the brood box wall and then the frames of foundation/comb to the right better .
If there self spacing frames Hoffman's then I put a plastic bee space board in first then put the first frame in next to this then remove the bee space board I then add the remaining frames individually to check the queen's there , stores and brood.
before you add the frames of foundation/comb you need to turn the nuc upsidedown and tape the nuc on the bottom to make sure all the bee's are in the new brood box the same with the floor if it's not attached , add your extra frames, crown board and roof done.

Blimey; That's a long wait.
The nucs that I sell will be starting to think of swarm preparations!

 

[Curly green fingers]

Blimey; That's a long wait.
The nucs that I sell will be starting to think of swarm preparations!

I know what your saying if there bursting at the seams then move them as soon as possible, when I've moved nucs in a box into a brood I've done it sooner than that .
Anything else to pick hole at ?
Time wise?

 

[Eyeman]

I know what your saying if there bursting at the seams then move them as soon as possible, when I've moved nucs in a box into a brood I've done it sooner than that .
Anything else to pick hole at ?
Time wise?

Wasn't trying to critisise or pick a hole, just another point of view.
Your method would be useful for those imported 2019 queens which have only been 5 minutes in a nuc before their sold off. A prolonged period of rest would undoubtable reduce the queen beeing balled!

 

[SDM]

And late April/early May for collection always makes me wonder as my nucs are ready for hives from early March onwards. I know of one guy in the midlands who makes nucs for sale with last years production queens, when his new order of queens arrives( late april/early May)

 

[Eyeman]

Always makes me suspicious when adverts first appear in April/May for '2018' overwintered nucs!
My 22 overwintered nationals are nearly all reserved for collection Mach/April. The 28 14x12's are moving slowly.
Will be reducing the 14x12's by 50% next year and upping the nationals.

 

[reigate]

When the nuc is installed into the brood box how much sugar syrup would be required to help draw out the foundation?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

depends on whether there's a flow on or not - if a good flow, syrup not needed

 

[mbc]

I always see it as a missed trick letting them draw foundation on the good stuff, why not speed it up with a feed and then more of the God given stuff will fill your supers.

 

[enrico]

Put two pints in and see how quickly they take it. Depends on the feeder of course. Use 1 part sugar to 1 part water.
E