Suitable box for a nuc

[bees knees]

Can a nuc be put in a national brood box using a dummy board to make the utilised space smaller?

I'm considering making up a nuc from a colony I have done a Demeree on but I don't have a nuc box.

 

[Cussword]

I would say yes. I could be wrong, but it makes sense to me.

 

[drstitson]

of course you can - best to dummy down with kingspan filling all the gap.

 

[oliver90owner]

Yep, as per the Doc. A divider is better than a dummy. Insulation behind the divider would be good, or even on both sides of the new small colony. There are a lot out there that still do not think enough about their bees needing to be homed in a suitably sized space - do not be swayed by them.

RAB

 

[itma]

Filling the unused space is a good thing, reducing excess air circulation (draughts) but I'm not sure that costly insulation material is required. I'd suggest a binbag filled with packaging chippings or even scrunched up newspaper would do the job equally well.
Insulation is particularly worthwhile for a small colony, but, in a wooden hive there is no sense in overinsulating just one side.
The best place for Celotex would be above the coverboard - heat rises!

 

[drstitson]

"in a wooden hive there is no sense in overinsulating just one side."

sorry i should've been clearer - i meant gaps i.e. dummied down with colony in middle - insulation both sides.

....and of course on top.

 

[oliver90owner]

We should be assuming top insulation for colonies which neecd to be kept warm, I would have thought. Simple I sulation is not a 'costly' item.

Just go with drstitson's sensible approach. Common sense should prevail where insulation is concerned.