Hi all, the first week in May I pick up my nuc, I've done a bit of reading, watched a few videos, and have instructions from the hive maker, does anyone have any tips, and does anyone go without using a smoker ever? For the feeder I read 1 part sugar to one part water, how about adding some honey to the feeder, and how much? Thanks, Ed
I don't use much smoke, but do occasionally use it to calm or move them.
I try to only feed honey (If I have some from my hives left). I generally don't feed unless they are risking starvation. I personally feel the natural food they get from nectar and pollen is healthier for them and builds a healthier hive. However, if you don't feed you probably won't get a honey crop the first year unless you steal their honey and replace it with sugar water.
Use smoke sparingly to calm the nuc. I would initially feed the bees to get them started. I personally feed the bees to get comb drawn and continue until the brood chamber/s are drawn and full. 99% of commercial beekeepers feed bees similarly. Take heed to what the people who do it for a living do. If you need or want style points, by all means feed honey from unknown sources that may very well be full of brood disease spores. You will find no study that proves bees raised on honey are superior to those raised on granulated white sugar.
I do not use smoke when transferring frames of a nuc to a brood box, I do spray with 1:1. I do it in the evening and I go smooth but fast. Then I top feed until the 1st, then 2nd then last brood box is full (I run 3 mediums for brood.) -Mike
Thank you everyone for your replies, Ed