Overwintering nuc

[Skylark]

I have a nuc I transferred to a hive in early August,the bees are still on the original 5 frames with 6 frames undrawn foundation in the hive. Is it normal to leave the undrawn foundation in the hive overwinter as it fills up the empty space ( would have thought its quite insulating) or do you putty in dummy boards?

 

[Skylark]

put in dummy boards that should read. No putty required eh

 

[biglongdarren]

I'd say dummy board and well insulate or even put them back into the nuc.
Darren.

 

[Tom Bick]

Dummy boards or even better division boards ideally made from insulation just as long as the bees don’t get access to the insulation, kingspan foil covered insulation is good with gaffer tape on the exposed edges and then fill the space behind the division / dummy board with insulation.

This way your small colony will be the same size as if it was back in the nuc but will have a greater amount of insulation. Also a block of insulation over the crown board will also help.

If you can fit the insulation soon as it will help the bees and perhaps give them one frame of foundation as you never know they may surprise you.

 

[Poly Hive]

Buy a poly nuc and over winter them in that.

PH

 

[Skylark]

What sort of insulation is best ? Will a couple of woolly jumpers do or as someone said foil covered builders insulation. I dont really want to re nuc either, I take it any insulation needs to leave good ventilation still.
Is hive insulation best practice then or do some folk leave the bees to it?

 

[Poly Hive]

Skylark?

You have a baby colony. They are vulnerable. Why mess about with trying to insulate a cold wooden box when you can make them cosy in a poly nuc. To me it is so obvious it is err.. obvious.

PH

 

[drstitson]

either foil covered (kingspan) or knauf space board - the latter was £3.48 a sheet on special at B&Q last autumn - you get enough per sheet (120x50) to top 2x crownboards plus 1x offcut which will fit behind a dummy board (conveniently works whether you are national, Langstroth or JLS based!!!!)

 

[Skylark]

I dont know much about poly nucs so a few question.

a) Wouldnt they be really light weight and be prone to blowing over in high winds?
b) Are they ventilated
c) How much higher temp can they keep above a standard wooden hive.
d) any other benefits?

 

[oliver90owner]

a) One really needs to strap them anyway, so strapping them down is just a further simple step.

b) Mine have OMFs.

c) It's not a matter of higher temperature, just less heat loss - there is a subtle difference.

d) What other benefits do you want? Lighter, less likely to suffer 'isolation starvation' are a couple. There may be the odd downside, too. So always a compromise.

RAB

 

[drstitson]

a poly nuc with 6 full jumbo frames isn't that light!!!

 

[RosieMc]

Skylark?

You have a baby colony. They are vulnerable. Why mess about with trying to insulate a cold wooden box when you can make them cosy in a poly nuc. To me it is so obvious it is err.. obvious.

PH

and hope you never, ever, get foulbrood !

 

[Flatters]

You can get a 6 frame poly nuc with OMF for under £30. It will save all the bother of making up boards with insulation. Kingspan insulation is not very cheap anyway.

 

[biglongdarren]

hey what way does a polynuc work if i want to feed fondant later on in the winter,is there a crownboard?can i put an eke on to leave room for the container with the fondant in it?i have a couple of nucs and am all interested now
Darren

 

[oliver90owner]

It rather depends on the polynuc. Not all are the same.

Some have a feeder. You could replace a frame with a frame feeder. You could add an eke. You might just feed on the top bars. You could possibly feed in the bottom (not too sure about that one). You might have a modified Langstroth with a feeder made at the end. You might just put them onto jumbo frames and not need to feed. Lots of options; there may be others. Just have to choose an appropriate one.

 

[biglongdarren]

so who sells the best national poly nucs if i was to buy a couple then? and whats a jumbo frame?
Darren