Nuc is alive!

Rich V · February 07, 2012, 04:42:02 PM

On 9/24/11, I removed the queen from this nuc. and installed her into hive twelve. Then on 10/6/11, I moved all the remaining bees in the nuc, into hive four. In between this time. I also removed most of the frames of brood. What remained in the nuc was a small amount of bees that I failed to brush off, field bees, and a very small amount of brood. Yesterday was in the mid thirties and sunny, so I decided to sneak a quick peak at some hives. I figured the nuc was long dead and was going to take it into the barn and clean it up. To my surprise the nuc is still alive.

AllenF · February 07, 2012, 05:39:45 PM

Take those bees to hive 4. :-D Bees are amazing.

yockey5 · February 07, 2012, 05:44:48 PM

You just never know when it comes to bees! Good on ya.

BlueBee · February 07, 2012, 06:28:13 PM

Nice! So now what's your plan for this nuc?

Rich V · February 07, 2012, 11:19:38 PM

Quote from: BlueBee on February 07, 2012, 06:28:13 PM
Nice! So now what's your plan for this nuc?

Well, it's still darn cold here. Todays high was 28* with a strong wind. I made a spacer to fit between the body and the cover and gave them some fondant. Guess I'll watch over them until I can make a move. Any suggestions?

AliciaH · February 08, 2012, 12:54:37 PM

To clarify...they have no queen?

Rich V · February 08, 2012, 03:53:48 PM

Quote from: AliciaH on February 08, 2012, 12:54:37 PM
To clarify...they have no queen?

That is correct.

AliciaH · February 08, 2012, 04:23:09 PM

I would combine them. The threat of laying workers is too great and why waste the food resources only to end up with a drone hive? It's too early for needing drones, right? And it's too early to steel frames of larvae from other hives to keep that from happening.

I just dismantled a hive on Friday with similar conditions. I had suspected it to be queenless in October, but because the queen was a daughter from a WSU-sponsored queen rearing program in our club, I went floating down the river of de-nile and decided I just wasn't seeing her. The inspection on Friday proved otherwise. The new larvae is all drone and I actually watched a worker bee walking backwards, trying to catch her abdomen in cells to lay eggs. Sheesh!

It is amazing that they have been working right along, though, isn't it? I felt the same when when I opened my box. Happy, yet sad about their future, all at the same time!

Rich V · February 08, 2012, 06:08:36 PM

I went floating down the river of de-nile

Witty, I like that. I think for now I'am just gonna wait and watch. I don't see any break in the weather coming.

It is amazing that they have been working right along, though, isn't it? I felt the same when when I opened my box. Happy, yet sad about their future, all at the same time.

Exactly, only a beekeeper could relate to that. I sure would like to be able to save the nuc, but the chances are slim.