Does anyone overwinter nucs in the waxed cardboard nucs like the ones made by Jester? Is it a good idea or should they be kept in wooden nucs because they would probably retain heat much better? Thanks
I would think they would be pretty cold. Would you insulate them some way? I wouldn't dream of it, but I am at the north edge of the country.
Jester's nucs are coroplast (corrugated plastic). They last a lot longer than the cardboard ones but overheat in the summer. We use them for splitting because they are so easily moved but move the bees into deep 10 framers as soon as we can during the summer. Heat gain is too much so I'd imagine heat loss would be as well.
Scott
Scott and Vance make good points. If you want to experiment with the cardboard nucs, I would try putting a 1" thick foam shell over them. That gives you 5 times the insulation value of wood; keeping the heat in during the winter and sun out during the summer.
I know folks who have overwintered in them in central North Carolina. I would put them in the shade in summer and maybe put some insulation on the top in winter.