Nuc install help

[saltybluegrass]

I have really been depressed lately and am ha ing thinking trouble -
I have a 5 frame nuc from Saturday that needs installed - I?m gonna place in a 10 frame BB. Do I install the nuc frames in the middle and install the empty frames on the ends or the nuc frames all to one side?
Also can I use an all Screen  bottom with no base cover like covering the screen so too much air doesn?t flows in ?

[herbhome]

Salty,

I place the 5 frames of the nuc in the center of the new box, in the same order they were in the nuc. Make sure pollen frames are next to the brood and honey frames to the outside. For screen bottom boards I keep the inspection board in place pretty much all the time. Brood nest scent and heat needs to be maintained.

Hope this helps.

[van from Arkansas]

Barefoot, go with HerbHome advice.  Keep the nuc frames together.  Sorry you been depressed lately.  Make us another barefooted video, you brave fella with sense of humor.  Two good traits.
Blessings
Van

[BeeMaster2]

Salty,
As mentioned, put the Nuc in the center with the frames in the same position as they were in the Nuc. I have all SBBs and They are open. I have them open all year. Most have oil trays that I mainly use to see what is being dumped out of the hives.
Jim Altmiller

[iddee]

I do as above, except I move one empty frame just inside the pollen frame for them to expand the brood into. It seems to make her expand the brood nest faster. I quit using screen bottom boards many years ago, so can't help you there.

[saltybluegrass]

Maybe I?ll video this tomorrow - better get my smoker right for Brian?s critique!!

[saltybluegrass]

Part 1- https://youtu.be/-2e5Lh526n8
Part ll after relighting smoker (Brian)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-yUFX5mHwU

[herbhome]

The §¤«£¿æ returns! 

Nicely done, Salty.

[MikeyN.C.]

Salty,  did ya already have frames with foundation, 5 of them if 10 deep, or 3 if 8 frame deep ? If not bee's will ladder comb to open space on the out side of frames.

[Dallasbeek]

I have two hives, both with SBBs.    I keep one open year around and have a tray under the other and don't see any difference.  If you were in the north, I'd think it might make a lot of difference, but in Texas or Florida or anyplace between, I think you're safe to go either way or with a solid bottom board.  Somebody like Iddee might point out that you'll never see a screened bottom on a feral hive, but here in Dallas I've seen combs attached to the underside of tree limbs that survived several years and then I think somebody removed them.   Bees can bee very adaptable if we let them bee.

[BeeMaster2]

Nice nuc. All frames covered.
Why do you put the queen excluder under the inner cover?
I?ll bet you stop going barefoot when the ground is covered with bees and you get stung with every step. 
Jim Altmiller

[MikeyN.C.]

Dallas,  you're saying that bee's in a hollow tree hive builds comb out side entrance in tree?

[MikeyN.C.]

Or a open air hive?

[Dallasbeek]

Open air hive.  One set of  photos I saw showed the comb covered with bees in mild weather and no beesnin sight when it was cold.  They were all clustered up inside.  Before I started keeping bees, my wife and I used to pass one open air hive that was directly over a sidewalk, on a tree branch about 15 feet up, that remained there several years and grew to be pretty good size.  A beekeeper must have removed them, because they disappeared and there was no trace of the comb remaining. 

[MikeyN.C.]

Sorry Salty, not trying to hijack post.

[CoolBees]

... I?ll bet you stop going barefoot when the ground is covered with bees and you get stung with every step. 
Jim Altmiller

Haha! Been there! Ahhh - rookie mistakes. Fond memories. Heck, they sting thru pants all up and down your legs when you drop a full brood box. ... yeah, Salty you might want to think about shoes once the hive gets strong.

Great videos!

[saltybluegrass]

Thanks yall- my focus here is going to try and match a post I ready under batting 600 I think. It said bees filled 2 foundations in 40 hours.
My other three hives (brood boxes only)  are not full after 40 days.
What should my expectations be? What may be wrong?
  Mikey- I installed a 5 f nuc to this 10 frame box. The nuc and empty frames in my box are foundation. Is there a technique to avoid laddering?

I excluded due to Pete?s advice under Package bee thread where he advised to close the inner cover handle cut out - I got tired and didn?t put a piece of wood over cutout so I at least wanted to save the queen from getting up there.
Last question for now is entrance reducer - I am using the 4-5 inch gap - when to let it wide open or close it down to 1? ?

[CoolBees]

...- my focus here is going to try and match a post I ready under batting 600 I think. It said bees filled 2 foundations in 40 hours ...

I've only seen that happen with swarms. Swarms know they have to build massive comb upon arrival to a new location, so they gorge on honey prior to leaving. The large swarm I caught 5 weeks ago is now finishing filling out 24 medium frames (3rd 8-frame box). I've not yet seen this from a split - takes a split months (flow depending) or even into the next season to do the same thing. Patience is what I'd recommend. Every hive is different.

. ..Last question for now is entrance reducer - I am using the 4-5 inch gap - when to let it wide open or close it down to 1? ?

I only open up the entrance when is see conjestion so much that bees are getting knocked out of the air bumping into each other on "final approach" ... others may have a different view on this.

[BeeMaster2]

What Alan said x2.
I keep all hiv s with reducers on until a hive is very large, ay 4 boxes deep full of bees. Even then I just pull the reducer out in one corner to open it a little more.
Jim Altmiller