overwintering a nuc

[Amari]

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

But you seem to nadir!

https://beekeepingforum.co.uk/showpost.php?p=689920&postcount=1

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

But you seem to nadir!

https://beekeepingforum.co.uk/showpost.php?p=689920&postcount=1

early on - when there's unripe or uncapped stores in a part filled super - not now when everything is set for winter

 

[Erichalfbee]

But you seem to nadir!

https://beekeepingforum.co.uk/showpost.php?p=689920&postcount=1

Yes I do
I put supers under shortly after I have taken them all off
I sort the frames I cant extract and get them under then
August
At this time of year it’s either reckless or because you don’t understand why you are doing it
Edit...... or are you asking me why I’m suggesting leaving a super on top when I nadir?
I run 14x12s. They don’t need a super on top

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

or are you asking me why I’m suggesting leaving a super on top when I nadir?
I run 14x12s. They don’t need a super on top

Neither do standard deeps - it's just an obsession with hobbyists to leave masses of stores on the hives rather than going to the effort of gauging how much feed they need.

 

[Erichalfbee]

And there is no point in nadiring a super if the brood box is already full of stores, either

 

[Amari]

Yes I do
I put supers under shortly after I have taken them all off
I sort the frames I cant extract and get them under then
August
At this time of year it’s either reckless or because you don’t understand why you are doing it
Edit...... or are you asking me why I’m suggesting leaving a super on top when I nadir?
I run 14x12s. They don’t need a super on top

Ah, maybe we could classify nadiring according to common practice with a standard National hive:
August: nadir supers containing honey unsuitable for extracting.
September: feed syrup into a super and a couple of weeks later nadir the super for the winter.
I realise that you disapprove of the September practice (gives the bees unnecessary work bringing the stores back up again - but do the bees 'mind', did they mind in August?) but it has advantages eg: The nadir is invariably empty by spring whereas if left as a super there is usually unused (syrup) stores and what do you do with those frames?
The nadir acts as a buffer against the winter weather.

 

[Swarm]

No idea why but the message filtering through to beginners is to leave the bees a super, which is then nadired while the bees are being fed all the syrup you can make.
I've had beginners asking me when to put the super underneath.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

September: feed syrup into a super and a couple of weeks later nadir the super for the winter.

But why? if you are determined to have a nadired shallow - nadir first and then feed, the bees will immediately store it above and behind, shifting down into the nadir if space needed.
Ridiculous to aim to fill a super then immediately nadir it for them to shift up.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

No idea why but the message filtering through to beginners is to leave the bees a super, which is then nadired while the bees are being fed all the syrup you can make.
I've had beginners asking me when to put the super underneath.

same as the 'I don't do it for the honey' brigade if that's the case, be of some real use and care for solitary bees or, if you feel that getting stung is a mandatory part of the experience, keep wasps

 

[Erichalfbee]

Ah, maybe we could classify nadiring according to common practice with a standard National hive:
August: nadir supers containing honey unsuitable for extracting.
September: feed syrup into a super and a couple of weeks later nadir the super for the winter.

The nadir acts as a buffer against the winter weather.

No
Why on earth feed with the super on then move it?

As others have said. A National doesn’t need a super on for winter
If you have prolific bees they would be in a brood and a half or a 14x12 or a Langstroth
If you need a buffer put in the inspection tray

 

[Amari]

But why? if you are determined to have a nadired shallow - nadir first and then feed, the bees will immediately store it above and behind, shifting down into the nadir if space needed.
Ridiculous to aim to fill a super then immediately nadir it for them to shift up.

I strongly suspect whichever dogma we preach makes not a hoot's difference to the wellbeing of the colony or our honey yield...........cf warm v. cold arrangement of frames.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

same as the 'I don't do it for the honey' brigade if that's the case, be of some real use and care for solitary bees or, if you feel that getting stung is a mandatory part of the experience, keep wasps

 

[Swarm]

Ah, maybe we could classify nadiring according to common practice with a standard National hive:
August: nadir supers containing honey unsuitable for extracting.
September: feed syrup into a super and a couple of weeks later nadir the super for the winter.
I realise that you disapprove of the September practice (gives the bees unnecessary work bringing the stores back up again - but do the bees 'mind', did they mind in August?) but it has advantages eg: The nadir is invariably empty by spring whereas if left as a super there is usually unused (syrup) stores and what do you do with those frames?
The nadir acts as a buffer against the winter weather.

You could classify that advice as 'where on earth is the logic in it?'

You are creating a 'problem' and then you make your bees sort it out for you, if you don't want syrup in your super frames, take your supers off.
If you want the feed in the brood box, feed the brood box. If you nadir unripe honey, adjust your feeding.
As a buffer against Winter weather, there are so many options, solid floor or sealed OMF, both will keep your bees snug.
If a single National is too small but double brood is too big, dummy them to the size they need. So many options.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

If you need a buffer put in the inspection tray

Or just nadir an empty shallow