overwintering a nuc

[Cuckmere couple]

i used a nuc extension chamber as an eke for apiguard as i had nothing else

i left 3 brood frames in there leaving room for apiguard on frames below

the 3 frames have a large amount of nectar in them and im wondering if i should add frames and get them to fill the frames and then perhaps nadir them for winter

is this helpful or should i remove this upper chamber and store excess frames and reduce to single story nuc?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Is it a poly nuc? if so, I would just fill with frames, feed and leave on top.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

yes

this was the upper chamber on a poly nuc

i could add three more frames (to 6) and feed?

at the moment i removed and its a 6 frame nuc (full of nectar and 3 frames bia)

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

yes

this was the upper chamber on a poly nuc

i could add three more frames (to 6) and feed?

I would - in fact I did more or less that a week or so ago.

 

[Swarm]

I aim for that set up with all my nucs going into Winter, last year went so well they ended up three boxes high. The bees love it.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I aim for that set up with all my nucs going into Winter, last year went so well they ended up three boxes high. The bees love it.

I usually find that a single nuc, well fed in the autumn will fare well, with no interference until the spring, in fact, this spring I had to take some frames of leftover winter stores out of mine for them to expand.
I have a few on double boxes this year - one because it was betwixt a nuc and a full brood, and another which I thought needed the space but eventyally just started using it for stores, so I piled on the feed the last week or so to help them finish the job.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

ok

so thats my plan

but you leave the stores in the brood extension box above brood rather than switch it all around to nadir?

 

[Erichalfbee]

ok

so thats my plan

but you leave the stores in the brood extension box above brood rather than switch it all around to nadir?

Yes leave.
Why do you nadir? You do it so that the bees move the stores up into the brood box, leaving the nadired box empty of stores.
You’re leaving the stores for them anyway so leave on top

 

[Cuckmere couple]

thanks Dani

of course

 

[Cuckmere couple]

ok

nuc extension is back on with the 3 frames theyd filled and 3 drawn frames as yet unfilled but they are being fed syrup.

question

what should the order of these brood frames be above the nest....filled frames in middle or outside and empty in centre?

 

[For want of a better word]

Empty frames towards the non feeder side on a 6 frame Paynes Polly Nuc and keep the feeder full of thymolated 2;1 all winter.... it works as a heat store!
I find bees make their brood nest next to it as opposed to the Maisie nucs with the abomination of a top feeder, where the bees bundle up in the center!

Chons da

 

[Cuckmere couple]

Empty frames towards the non feeder side on a 6 frame Paynes Polly Nuc and keep the feeder full of thymolated 2;1 all winter.... it works as a heat store!
I find bees make their brood nest next to it as opposed to the Maisie nucs with the abomination of a top feeder, where the bees bundle up in the center!

Chons da

and with a Maisies nuc? (sorry!)

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

ok

nuc extension is back on with the 3 frames theyd filled and 3 drawn frames as yet unfilled but they are being fed syrup.

question

what should the order of these brood frames be above the nest....filled frames in middle or outside and empty in centre?

Filled frames on the outside

 

[For want of a better word]

and with a Maisies nuc? (sorry!)

OK the apostrophe rule went out of the window on this forum when Americanized miss spelling became acceptable...

Maisie's nuc... the one made by Maisemore Bees in Gloucestershire!

 

[Cuckmere couple]

OK the apostrophe rule went out of the window on this forum when Americanized miss spelling became acceptable...

Maisie's nuc... the one made by Maisemore Bees in Gloucestershire!

yes, but im saying i have Maisies nucs and wondered what the advice was for these rather than Paynes....

 

[Poly Hive]

Feed well. Then come Jan put fondant on. About as simple as it gets.

PH

 

[Erichalfbee]

OK the apostrophe rule went out of the window on this forum when Americanized miss spelling became acceptable...

Maisie's nuc... the one made by Maisemore Bees in Gloucestershire!

Can you stop confusing the issue please

 

[For want of a better word]

Can you stop confusing the issue please

Perhaps if the OP had been specific about which make of nuc the overwintering had been intended for there would have been less confusion?

The Maisemore nuc has the advantage that the syrup guards can be removed to feed fondant.
Paynes have I believe manufactured a similar top feeder.

It seems that this forum does not really need input from experienced beekeepers and had spiraled into the depths of the "Beginners ONLY Forum"... much like my local association has... with a plethora of people who have just done a course being led by another who has done relatively little beekeeping ... but is prepared to shout down the ones who have served their time, and have now voted with their feet......


Chons da

 

[Erichalfbee]

It seems that this forum does not really need input from experienced beekeepers and had spiraled into the depths of the "Beginners ONLY Forum"... much like my local association has... with a plethora of people who have just done a course being led by another who has done relatively little beekeeping ... but is prepared to shout down the ones who have served their time, and have now voted with their feet......


Chons da

That's not true
All the replies on this thread for example have been from experienced beekeepers

 

[Cuckmere couple]

i'm appreciative of all the advice i see and get on this forum

you often hear the adage that 10 beekeepers, 11 different views etc. This variance in views means its even more important to be respectful of different views etc and as they say to be able to disagree without being disagreeable

sometimes i struggle to see where the conflict comes from that gave rise to sensitivities being ruffled

anyway...on this one, i should have been more specific about the nuc but that was resolved when the question was asked and answered

appreciate the info as ever