Single Deep or Double Nuc?

[AliciaH]

I have a few hives that have populated a single deep nicely, but not enough to warrant a 2nd deep.  The temps are dropping at night here and I think it would be too much room to heat.

I had a hive starve to death last winter because as temps dropped, the colony wouldn't move sideways to reach the food, and there was a lot of it!

So, I was wondering, if as the temps drop, bees move up and down easier than side to side, would it be better to put these hives in double nucs instead of leaving them in single deeps?

Just an idea I'm playing with and was wondering what you thought?

[BjornBee]

I get a better winter survival rate in a 10 deep box when compared to a 5 over 5 nuc.

I also can feed a large chunk of fondant on the inner cover of a 10 frame hive, easier than feeding a nuc.

It seems that the width of the nucs and the cold walls are detrimental to the nucs where the cluster of the hive is more in line with what they need.

With all that said, I will be overwintering about 150 stand alone two story 5 over 5 nucs this year.

But if I had the time to change them all over, I know they do better in a 10 frame deep.

[Jim134]

IMHO

I get a better winter survival rate in a 10 deep box when compared to a 5 over 5 nuc.

I also can feed a large chunk of fondant on the inner cover of a 10 frame hive, easier than feeding a nuc.

It seems that the width of the nucs and the cold walls are detrimental to the nucs where the cluster of the hive is more in line with what they need.

Ditto


    BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

[AliciaH]

So, if I'm understanding correctly, it's better to keep the box shorter/wider and let the bees heat the insulation space between them and the walls than it is to tighten the space by doubling the height of the box which eliminates the cushion of air and gives the elements twice the wall space to chill and blow the heat off the hive? 

Wordy, I know... :-P

[AllenF]

Better to be wordy than worldly.     :)     Just make sure they got enough weight in stores for the winter and I think they will do fine.