Long Hive bursting at seams

[T Beek]

I've got a Long Hive that's exploding in 36 medium frames (a caught swarm from late June).  They started bearding today.

Is it too late to start a winter NUC with some borrowed brood frames and a new queen?  I've never made a NUC up so late and we've only got about a month before the first killing frost up here so I'll likely have to feed heavily. 

Wada ya think beeks?

thomas

[hankdog1]

I don't know if I would risk overwintering a nuc unless I didn't have any other options.  Risk would be much higher now then in spring.  I wouldn't do it this late I would just hold off till spring.

[FRAMEshift]

Do you have an extra mated queen?  If so, why not do a split into two equal hives?  18 frames should overwinter better than a nuc.

[T Beek]

hankdog1;  Agreed, risk is higher in winter, but I've read that some beeks can keep as few as TWO frame NUCs going through winter (Mike Palmer in VT comes to mind).  Holding off will likely result in a late swarm which I don't want either.

FRAMEshift;  Thanks.  No, I don't have a 'mated' queen (yet).  I know its too late for them to raise a new one, my bees have been dumping drones for a couple weeks already, so I guess that's the question.  Is there time to purchase and place a new 'mated' queen?  I like the idea of doing a split rather than a NUC.  Unfortunately I don't have another Long Hive that's un-occupied, I suppose I could split them to a Lang but still must find a queen this late.  Always something new and challenging this beekeeping bizzzzzzz :). 

Thanks for the advise.  I guess I'm going to look for a queen to purchase.

thomas

[FRAMEshift]

Our long hives hold 33 frames.  We split them when they reach about 20 frames of brood.  There is a risk of swarming if they get bigger than that and there is no room for honey storage (unless you add supers).  Glad you're having such success with your long hive though.  Keep us informed on how this works out.

[BjornBee]

2 frame nucs going through winter...  :lau:

Do I hear a bid of one?

Stick around long enough and there really isn't anything you won't hear in beekeeping.  :roll:

[BlueBee]

TBeek, I remember you like northern queens and I suspect you could still get some form places like Ohio.  I still have lots of drones in Michigan so I would suspect there are places around the Midwest that are still selling mated queens.

I did some walk away splits about the 2nd week of Aug and have queens that are now getting fatter by the day in those nucs, but haven't started laying eggs yet.  I'm kind of in the same boat as you.  Are they going to build up enough by winter?  We normally get a killing frost around Oct15th here.

I would like to winter those nucs in my foam nuc without electric heat this winter, but if they don't build up enough to pack a 5 frame deep nuc, I'll probably resort to electric heat again.  Yes, different strokes for different folks.

The last time I read some of MPs threads, I thought he makes his 2 frame (of brood) nucs in mid/late July.  I could be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure he reported wintering with at least 4 DEEP frames of bees. 

I'm going to have to agree with Bjorn, I've never heard of any 2 frame nucs surviving winter without electric heat (but I could be wrong)

[T Beek]

I also agree w/ Bjorn for the most part and 'always' try to apologise for any misstatement's made, but the ridicule still belongs in High School (always a few around I guess).  Must be tough being right all the time :-D. 

Thanks for the advise to those who gave it.

I took three frames of brood from the full Long Hive and gave them to another colony today.  Hopefully that settles things down.

thomas

[Adam Foster Collins]

I've heard of people wintering 2 frame nucs as well. You're right, the ridicule gets tiresome. It just keeps a lot of people from taking part in discussions.

If you really want the low-down on wintering nucs, I'd contact Mike Palmer directly and ask your questions. He's the man in that department. Vermont has hard winters and he's been wintering nucs for years. Kirk Webster also does.

Good luck,

Adam

[T Beek]

Thanks Adam, that's good advise.

thomas

[Tommyt]

Mike Palmer is well worth looking up
M Bush who we all know,had asked Palmer to do a
article on Just that,so when *Mam starts making foolish
posts,I just look at the messenger not the message
I believe Mike Palmers discussion would show up
in a Google search

Hope it all works out
Tommy

*=mouth all mighty

[Scadsobees]

My TWO frame observation hive has made it through the winter for the past 5 years. 

That being said, it has been heated to up to 85F at times and has rarely made it through the spring without a lot of help....