Question about the Nuk from the removal what to do now

Angi_H · February 18, 2008, 11:21:28 PM

Please dont move this as this is where I am going to ask questions on what to do now with the nuc I have from the hive removal.

Ok so I have this nuc that I go tomorrow and pick up. There are empty frames in there that have the comb and brood with honey and pollen, There is one empty frame that I will replace with a frame with foundation in it. Now My question is should after I bring these guys home let them be in the nuc till they fill out the frames almost all of the frames the rest of the way or should I move them into my med depth super that is my hive bodys. I dont want to disterb them to much. I know all of the moving is going to have them peeved as well as thrown back on production of brood and what not. What should I do. Eventually I want to move them into the super. AS the frames are not deep frames in there because of there space in the tree the comb was only about 4 inches wide. And I had to place them into the med super frames. I want to do the best for these gals. As I used muscles I haddent used in years climbing that ladder and working 20ft in that tree. I dont want to get them home and kill them off.

The other question is I bought L50 sugar syrup very very thick from Dadants and for spring Do I need to dilute it since it is so thick? Oh and I got my date for picking up my package bees from CF Kohenon it is on April 10th. Yeaa.

Angi
Please any help would be fantastic.

Jerrymac · February 18, 2008, 11:31:03 PM

Is the Nuk of the deep brood box size? And you have medium frames in there? It will be fine to leave them in the nuk to help them build in size, but if it is medium frames in a deep nuk they might build comb on the bottom of the frames.

This is the right place for this as it is about something other than removing bees. Unless you start talking about expanding and then it would go some where else :-D :-D

BenC · February 19, 2008, 12:02:30 AM

After getting it home I'd put it in the desired location and let it set for about ten days, don't touch it except for maybe feeding little sugar water. Just let them settle down from the trauma of eviction and relocation. After that time, open it up and assess the situation; you (they) will probably be ok moving to a medium box at that time. Don't be too hasty, you might get moved to the Rapid Beeyard Growth forum :-D

Angi_H · February 19, 2008, 12:53:18 AM

removals moves where to go now lmao. Ya I know that they have been through allot since friday and I want that queen to get settled. And I want them to build out the frmaes that have brood and honey and pollen on it to make it more hardy. As it is now it is not becuase of the size of the hole they were in the comb is not very wide. Only like 4 in wide. Yes they are in a deep nuc. As that is all I have till I cut it down. But they needed to be rubber banded into the med frames due to the size of the brood comb I was pulling out. I dont want them to build to much comb on the bottom of those frames in the nuc. Maybe I should just give them a few days till our rain that is supposed to come till Sunday and then move them over to the med super. You know what is funny I was totally expecting to get stung and was not afriad to either as I knew it would help my fibro. And not a single sting. Even though I was wrecking there home and they were flying around no one got stung and my kids were running around like gang busters and the owner was out watching. I hope because all of this there temperment does not change as I like there temperment now. Nice and calm and gentle. Oh what to do where to go. Questions questions.

Angi

JP · February 19, 2008, 01:02:40 AM

I would move them when the weather gets right.

....JP

Jerrymac · February 19, 2008, 01:43:21 AM

It probably will be a week before they will want to build on the bottom of the frame and then only if you are feeding a lot.

Angi_H · February 19, 2008, 02:46:35 AM

Ya after I go and get them Tuesday night I will let them be as we are supposed to get rain till sunday. Then if all is clear and it is warm enough I will move them to the Med super with the 10 frames. God I hope they do ok. I am worried about them in the nuc. As the syrup leaked and has made the floor stickey. Maybe I will just move them tomorrow night when I get home that way I know they are in a clean and dry new home. With foundation to expand and no room at the bottom and no stickey floors. What had happened was the nuc slipped in the fork and leaned a little and the syrup when the sun came up ozzed out of the bucket feeder and into the bottom and out the back of the nuc Yuk. What a mess on the ground. It also oozed out around the top as well. I think I will be looking for new feeders for syrup. What all do you suggest. I got these bucket feeders from Better Bee.

Angi

Angi_H · February 20, 2008, 01:03:56 AM

Ok Sad update.. Went back to get the nuc box tonight and the lid on the syrup feeder cracked from the sun that is all I can think it was as it was not cracked when I put it on top. And most of the bees drowned in a stickey goo mess. I saw still several flying around. I am so bummed and am hopeful I get another swarm call or removal call as I want me bees now. I set the nuc out in the yard next to where I have been feeding the almond tree bees. As there is no blooms as of yet on those trees and the bees have been out there for 2 weeks now. I rinsed out the bottom of the nuc from all of its stickey goo mess and placed the frames of dead brood and honey comb back in it to let it get robbed out. To help clean up the frames. I am so bummed and sad. I could not tell in the mess if the queen was gooey or not. As the whole bottom clear to the entrance so there would have been no hope for her getting out anyway. I want to send that lid back to better bee and say look what happened this is not right.

Angi
who is bummed and sad. I will not do 20ft high in tree removals any more to hard.

BenC · February 20, 2008, 05:03:35 PM

Sorry to hear about the turn of events, now you know firsthand why so many insist on charging for cutouts as sometimes(usually) it's hard work and occasionally it just doesn't work out. All I can suggest is that everything is a learning experience, some lessons come at a higher price. As long as you learned some things from the experience I see no reason for you to shy away from trying again. For those of us unfamiliar with the feeder w/lid of which you speak, could you post a photo or a link? Better luck next time.

Ben

Angi_H · February 21, 2008, 12:56:26 AM

http://betterbee.com/products.asp?dept=267

Here is a link to the feeder pail. The lid from the center where the screen about 3 inches out cracked and it wasnt when I put it on the nuc.

Angi

Angi_H · February 21, 2008, 01:00:11 AM

Oh I am not giving up. Just dont want to do 20+ feet up in a tree with out being able to cut down the limbs. It was to hard and not easy working in the space. And then to have the feeder lid crack and leak it was heartbreaking to say the least. Especially when I had the queen in my hands. I was so looking forward to having bees early.

Angi

JP · February 21, 2008, 07:11:14 AM

Angi, you need not be discouraged. You did a bang up job and learned valuable lessons that will no doubt help you on your next removals. Stuff happens plain and simple. Don't beat yourself up, you did the best you could do and things just went a little screwy, this is how it goes sometimes. We have all had things blow up on us, but the key is too just keep on keepin' on which I know you will do. We are here for you, remember this. Trust me, anyone who has performed removals can feel your pain. There are many a beekeeper that have disaster stories that have to do with feeders that leaked or didn't work like they were supposed to whereby thousands of bees wound up drowning, it makes you wanna kick yourself, but these things happen, so brush yourself off, and get ready for the next one, cause you know its just a matter of time before you get that call to remove some more. You have a great day.

Sincerely, JP

Brian D. Bray · February 21, 2008, 09:12:46 PM

I agree with JP. I was really impressed by how well you did getting that swarm out of that tree. Equipment failures are often the fault of the manufacturer, as it was in your case, not that of the user. If you had misused the equipment that may have been different, but you didn't. You used it as directed and it failed. You've obviously learn a lot from the experience. I think you will end up being a terrific beekeeper.

Angi_H · February 22, 2008, 01:55:13 AM

Thanks Guys. It really means allot to me. You all are the best. I am going to be making flyers and taking it to our Local PD in both towns. The Sheriff, The HWY Patrol the city and county fire departments as well as the other towns fire departments office. That way they can fax it over to the stations. Those stations that are close that have not yet gotten my business card will get a flyer dropped of in person and those that have a card will also get a flyer dropped of. Our local Ag office has already put me on there Swarm List. And I will call Fresno and Tulare Counties to be put on there swarm lists as well. I have signed up on this site, beesource and a couple of others for swarms. I just cant wait till the next call. I knew I should have stopped when a beek down the street was giving jars of syrup to there bees. I should have stopped and talked to them. Anyway I want my girls and April 10th seems way to far away.

Angi