Over wintering Nucs

[jbr]

I know that this may be a little early in the year to worry about this but I am trying to think ahead to what I might need to do.

I had a new nuc that I have hived in a National hive. They were expanding nicely when they decided to swarm. The colony that is left has a new laying queen and they are building back up. There are about three frames of decent activity, the rest is empty.

At what point (if any) should these bees be put back into a nuc box for overwintering?

 

[Poly Hive]

I would see what strength they get back up to and if less than 11 frames then insert some polystyrene dummies to take up the space. Also a good chunk of poly over the crown board would be useful.

By the time you feed them if the Q is worth anything they plain winna fit a Nuc box.

PH