New to beekeeping ,I will be picking up my 2 nucs today,was suppose to get them 2 weeks ago
but it was cold and rainy.Well as the weather guessers were wrong again its cold and rainy today.
The nuc guy said they had to go today regardless they have been sealed up for 2 days.Now the
question I have is,should I install today or just set the cardboard nuc box on top of there new home
and unseal the entrance and wait till tomorrow when its suppose to be sunny?The low for tonite is
to be low to mid 30's.sorry for being long winded but nervous and excited at the same time
any advice appreciated.
Welcome to the forum.
How cold is cold? I would say that if it is in the 50's or above and not pouring down rain that it would be alright to transfer them. If they have been sealed up for two days they will probably be trying to chew their way out.
I have bees flying in the 40's in Alabama, not many. I would think up there they would be more cold tolerant. Then again, they may have been shipped from down south.
Last year we had to picked them up it was 32*F cold, windy, and rainy. We quickly exchanged frames and drove them home. It was everything the books said never to do.They did fine and survived the winter. What did you end up doing?
I ended up installing on Saturday after i got home.It stopped raining
and was 49 out but the area of the hives was almost wind free.Put a
3 inch screened shim on and put on some sugar cakes,being the temp
suppose to be under 60 for the next 4 or 5 days.Was this the right thing
to do ??Just waiting now till probably Thursday suppose to be partly sunny and 68,
then i can do an inspection,I'll try and get pictures and post for expert eyes.
Was planning on sugar water after warm up is that the correct way to do it?
thanks again, BobMac
With nucs you probably won't need to feed them if you have flowers blooming. If you do an inspection and they have honey and/or nectar than I wouldn't bother feeding. If they have very little stored in the frames than I might feed a little. If you feed them too much and too long they will backfill the broodnest and want to swarm.
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c357/rwmccor/pollen.png) (http://s31.photobucket.com/user/rwmccor/media/pollen.png.html)
they were really out getting pollen today,even though it was barley 60 degrees but was sunny .
here are 2 pics of the nucs going from cardboard nuc boxes to there real home
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c357/rwmccor/20160514_114826%201.jpg) (http://s31.photobucket.com/user/rwmccor/media/20160514_114826%201.jpg.html)
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c357/rwmccor/16%20-%206.jpg) (http://s31.photobucket.com/user/rwmccor/media/16%20-%206.jpg.html)
they were pretty full boxes,I'am thinking by thursday I might have to put another box on for brood will find out
Did my first inspection since installing my nucs on 5-14-1 they are drawing wax on the inside of the new frames,
have all stages of bees,honey, pollen and nectar.I think I still have awhile before adding anther brood box. Iam also using medium 8 frames equipment
here are some photos,tell me what you think ?
https://goo.gl/photos/Sty9mt4ycXyDRWif8
Looks like a happy healthy hive.
Bob,
Your bees are looking real good.
Welcome to Beemaster.
Jim