I am getting a 5 nuc with wood frames, they will be installed into 10 frame hive body with plastic frames.
My Question is; what is the best method to place the wood frames in the hive ?
I was told to place place the wood frames in the middle, plastic on the sides.
Also told to seperate frames such as, 1 plastic 1 wood 1 plastic 1 wood etc.
Another suggestion was to place plastic frames into a nuc box, place on top and let bees work their way up.
These are new plastic frames, I have left them air out for a month, painted additional wax, misted them with sugar water & let dry.
I will add a queen excluder between bottom board and hive body for four or five days, to prevent Queen from abscounding
Anyone else who has had experience with plastic have any more/better ideas, to get bees to accept plastic ??
Thanks
Bee-Bop
Interesting suggestions - most can be successful, it all depends on the bees. I'd be careful of the one where you alternate combs with foundation. That usually only works when it's very warm, the hive is very strong, and there is a flow going. But sometimes, even with added beeswax, it doesn't - I have a hive where I have placed several plastic foundation/frames between drawn comb, they just use the plastic foundation as a ladder, not bothering to draw it into comb.
I'm not sure about the deal where you spray sugar syrup, then let it dry. I'd rather it was still wet, so they would clean it up faster. But I've had the best success with plastic foundation when I simply coat extra beeswax onto the plastic cell wall bases, not into the cell bottoms, and then place these frames between full frames of brood.
If you are buying a nuc, I wouldn't break up the pattern with plastic frames. Put it close to the center with 3 plastic on one side, and 2 on the other, and let the bees work outward from there. Put your spare plastic frames into your empty nuc body and use it as a swarm trap.
I would keep the brood nest together for the time being. You might feed the plastic into the brood nest when they get a little stronger to encourage them to draw it. The center is fine. On one side would work too.
Thanks for the replies;
I believe I'll paint wax on the frame edges on some frames, others the cell bottoms, place plastic on each side and use the queen excluder on the bottom for 5 or 6 days.
Thanks Again for the replys.
Bee-Bop