Nuc fell through - too late to start one?

tjc1 · June 27, 2016, 07:42:29 PM

So, per another post, I don't have a nuc that I was expecting. My package bees, installed in April on drawn comb and lots of capped honey, are booming. Opinions on whether it is too late to pull some brood from them (I still have many spare frames of honey that I would love to put to use) and get a nuc started to overwinter?

Oblio13 · June 28, 2016, 08:22:37 AM

It's not too late, you've still got another week or two. I'm a bit north of you, and I figure that if nucs have sealed brood by mid-August, they're on-schedule to build up enough to overwinter.

I remember from your last post that you're using medium frames. A nuc that I started on the 10th of May has now filled four five-frame medium boxes, and I'm planning to split it again today, weather permitting.

Nucs that build up to three five-frame medium boxes overwinter nicely here. I push them all together side-by-side, slap winter patties on top, and cover them with a breathable canvas tarp (leaving the entrances uncovered, of course). They keep each other warm, and the canvas tarp keeps them dry and sheltered from the wind.

mtnb · June 28, 2016, 09:36:04 AM

geez, I hope it's not too late since I just started a medium nuc too. Lol

tjc1 · June 28, 2016, 01:02:30 PM

Oblio - I'm curious; if they are up to 4 5-frame nucs, why you don't put them now into two 10 frame mediums as a regular hive?

Oblio13 · June 28, 2016, 03:24:21 PM

Quote from: tjc1 on June 28, 2016, 01:02:30 PM
Oblio - I'm curious; if they are up to 4 5-frame nucs, why you don't put them now into two 10 frame mediums as a regular hive?

My hives are mostly eight-frame mediums. I also keep a few five-frame medium nucs going as "spares", and just because they're fun.

This particular nuc overwintered in four five-frame medium boxes. I split it on the 10th of May. Now it's built back up to four boxes again. I'm going to split it a second time because: A.) This is a booming queen and I'd like to get more of her genetics, B.) I don't need another production hive, and C.) All my eight-frame boxes are already in use.

Acebird · June 28, 2016, 05:36:50 PM

tjc1, It might kill your honey yield but if you split your boomer hive in half they both should make it through winter. If you introduce a queen to the queenless side it should easily make it as far as growth potential. How big is the boomer.

tjc1 · June 29, 2016, 12:16:46 AM

Quote from: Acebird on June 28, 2016, 05:36:50 PM
tjc1, It might kill your honey yield but if you split your boomer hive in half they both should make it through winter. If you introduce a queen to the queenless side it should easily make it as far as growth potential. How big is the boomer.

Because I had drawn comb and a medium full of capped honey to give it, the package is going great guns - 3 mediums and I just put a second super on as the first is almost full (but not capped).

As it happens, I got an email last night from my county bee club announcing the availability of club-raised virgin queens - part of a project of the club to raise local hardy queens/hives. So this morning I took two frames of brood and a frame of nectar/pollen from that hive and added two frames of honey left from my absconded hives and added the queen in her cage this afternoon. They, two will be given drawn comb and capped honey as they grow, so I hope they will build up well ahead of the fall. I figure it's worth a shot!

Acebird · June 29, 2016, 08:47:52 AM

If the queen makes it back and is any good at all the hive has every chance to make it through winter. Good luck.