I'm using all 8 frame medium boxes and I'm wondering about making a couple of nucs. To make a nuc with medium frames how many medium brood frames should I use? I'm thinking of two empty frames on the outsides, two honey/pollen frames inside of those, and then four frames of brood and brood+resources. Sound about right?
Ed
A lot more than I would use.
If I had to use an 8 frame nuc I would still only pull 3 frames from a hive.
The extra space can be dealt with by using division boards. Or follower boards. It will help with their ability to control the hive beetles.
I know a lot of people that make 2 and one frame nucs and let them build from there but I like at least 2
3 is better.
This way the parent hive still gets to make honey. Pulling 3 frames is swarm controller to me. The hive replaces that in no time.
Bailey
It depends on your goal. You can keep a nuc just to keep a spare queen around, which can be done with one frame of brood and one frame of honey. Or you can make a nuc with the expectation that it will grow up to a full size hive and make it through the winter or even make a honey crop. If I want it to "grow up" I would make a strong split with 16 medium frames full of bees and honey and 16 more empty ones for it to grow.
http://www.bushfarms.com/beessplits.htm (http://www.bushfarms.com/beessplits.htm)
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesnucs.htm (http://www.bushfarms.com/beesnucs.htm)
swamp that sounds more like a split. if you're going for expansion that plus a super of foundation sounds like a good start then add more as needed. things should be picking up down your way. i would think clover would be in right now.
Quote from: Intheswamp on March 19, 2013, 12:36:28 AM
I'm using all 8 frame medium boxes and I'm wondering about making a couple of nucs. To make a nuc with medium frames how many medium brood frames should I use? I'm thinking of two empty frames on the outsides, two honey/pollen frames inside of those, and then four frames of brood and brood+resources. Sound about right?
Ed
The 8 frame medium boxes make a nice nuc as they are the same volume as a 5 frame deep.
BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)