How Small for a Small Hive?

[van from Arkansas]

Father Michael, last year I tried new winter configurations.  Standard in my area is two deeps, Langstrof.  So I tried four each two box 5 frame nucs, side by side touching each other to share warmth, one 3 high nuc and one  single deep 10 frame Langstroth.

The single 10 frame single deep surprised me, the hive did great, could not ask for better results.  The 3 hive nuc was the first to perish, starved by Feb. also 2 nucs side by side perished, starved March 1st.  And finally all my double 10 frame did fine.

I tried 4 sets of nucs, 2 boxes high.  Two starved, the other two, I fed and that is the only reason they survived.  All said, no more over wintering nucs in my area for me.

My reasoning, the slim nuc box placed the cluster of bees to close to outside wall.  Whereas the 10 frame afforded space between the cluster and cold walls of the hive body.  My reasoning is a guess, just a guess, only tried over wintering nucs last winter.  So consider my limited source.  Also this winter was unrelenting daily cold, only one chinook, at Christmas, 64F.

[FatherMichael]

My reasoning, the slim nuc box placed the cluster of bees to close to outside wall.  Whereas the 10 frame afforded space between the cluster and cold walls of the hive body.  My reasoning is a guess, just a guess, only tried over wintering nucs last winter.  So consider my limited source.  Also this winter was unrelenting daily cold, only one chinook, at Christmas, 64F.

Thanks, Van.  Sorry that you lost some hives.

I wonder how much survivability an insulated hive buys.

It gets pretty darn cold in Finland and they make the hives I'll put new nucs in next month.

But they make those 6 frame nucs, too.

We have a problem herewith heat.  We get wind off the Chihuahua Desert nearly all summer sometime with weeks above 100*.  The Paradise 6 framers do not have venting in the top -- so that would be th puzzle for me if I went with them.

[van from Arkansas]

I did winter over a lyson, styrofoam, 10 frame double deep.  The hive wintered very well, was very robust in March: plenty of bees and food.  I?ll post a pic if a few minutes.  Hive has 1 inch hard foam, R8 value.  For comparison wood is 0.8.

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Two foam hives, one is a new to me, 6 frame, the yellow and green hive is the hive that wintered so well.  Both hives have upper vents in the lid.

34F this AM, bees are cold, not much activity due to cold.

[Ben Framed]

Good looking boxes Mr Van.

[FatherMichael]

Thank you so much, Van.

Given your colder than normal winter it seems that the insulated hive helped a lot?

[van from Arkansas]

Father Michael, I don?t know if your question pertains to starting a colony.  Appears to be winter arrangement.  FYI, the following.

Just for learning:  I just started a colony with a handful of bees.  The bees in the pic I posted on mated vrs virgin queen.  I added a frame of bees with pollen/nectar.  I also added a frame of bee with brood and queen cells from a previous swarm that I caught.  The bees were placed in a 6 frame styrofoam hive, new to me.

I know, I realize what I did,,, on purpose.  Queen cells and a one year old mated swarm queen together.  I am thinking the queen cells will be torn down due to queen maturity rule by Brother Adam.  Brother Adam stressed a mature queen, will be accepted by foreign bees IF all are placed in new location, new hive body: and I?ve tried this successfully.  However I have never tried swarm cells and a mature queen with so few bees.  Soon we shall know.

In case you are thinking the queen will fly back to original hive, there is no hive at the old location.  Queen is not clipped, she can fly, so in a few days Ill report the results.

Queen was accepted, queen cells torn down.  I just checked, all is well.  I did mix bees and frames from other hives.