How many supers do you think is too much for wintering nucs? I have a late July split that has filled a 5 frame deep foam nuc + a 5 frame medium super. I'm debating what to do with it.
I have extra foam medium supers so I could add another medium. That would make the nuc a triple decker. How tall is too tall for a winter nuc?
I have all mine two stories tall. Much more than that I feel is too tipsy. If they are stacked close together I guess one will help hold up the next.
As long as they dont have more room than bees they should be fine.
If your boxes are loaded with bees give them another box. Right before winter if all the boxes are filled with bees leave it be. If after the brood nest shrinks they dont fill the top box with bees take it off. Any honey in it can be fed back to them as they empty frames later on. Let the bees tell you what they need.
If you are worried it might topple strap it down. Give it a wind break.
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What?
The winter cluster will be same size as as brood area before autumn, when they stop brooding.
If the colony occupyes 10 frames, of course not it does not use 15 frames in winter.
If the colony has now 8 frames brood, it needs one box for winter.