Question

[DavePaulson]

My bees arive tomorrow. I have an idea to put two peices of 1" styrafoam on each end of my hive replacing one frame on each end this would reduce the volume that they have to heat and give each end R-7 of insulation. Is there any reason I shouldn't do this. I live in Minnesota our nightly lows are around 30 degrees now.

Thanks

Dave

[Understudy]

My bees arive tomorrow. I have an idea to put two peices of 1" styrafoam on each end of my hive replacing one frame on each end this would reduce the volume that they have to heat and give each end R-7 of insulation. Is there any reason I shouldn't do this. I live in Minnesota our nightly lows are around 30 degrees now.

Thanks

Dave

Well from a South Florida point of view. It actually sounds like a good idea. Untill your bees build up strength. Then I would remove them.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[DavePaulson]

Thanks for the reply Brendon. Yea it is my intention to remove them when they need the space. I'm going to do it if nobody replies with a reason not to. Its been 30 years since I last had bees, so tomorrow should bee interesting. Getting 3 packages.

Thanks again,

Dave

[jimmyo]

I've never done it but I'd try it.
Let us know how it works
JIm

[Brian D. Bray]

One of the hardest things for many beekeepers to understand is to limit the space the bees are in to begin with.  Just enough room to house the bees will enable them to keep the space they have at the right temperate and they can concentrate on developing a smaller area.  This is one of the primary reasons for Nuc boxes.  
One they have built out comb and possibly hatched some brood, then give them more room by removing the spacers and replace them with frames.  You need bees to cover the comb area for the hive to be efficient.  In swarms and packages you should use just enough frames for the bees to cover the surface of the foundation (if you're using full sheets) on every frame.  

For catching swarms a nuc may be a better choice over a standard size hive.  Except for especially large swarms they should readily cover the foundation and the smaller size gives them a smaller area to heat and work in.  If a large swarm use a 2nd box or add a second box and let them build that out before moving to a standard size hive.

[DavePaulson]

What I actually ended up doing was to put 2 peices of two inch foam on each end, which allowed me room for seven frames with the end frames tight against the foam, the rest spaced properly. We;ll see how it goes.

Dave

[shakerbeeman]

One of the hardest things for many beekeepers to understand is to limit the space the bees are in to begin with.  Just enough room to house the bees will enable them to keep the space they have at the right temperate and they can concentrate on developing a smaller area.  This is one of the primary reasons for Nuc boxes. 
One they have built out comb and possibly hatched some brood, then give them more room by removing the spacers and replace them with frames.  You need bees to cover the comb area for the hive to be efficient.  In swarms and packages you should use just enough frames for the bees to cover the surface of the foundation (if you're using full sheets) on every frame. 

For catching swarms a nuc may be a better choice over a standard size hive.  Except for especially large swarms they should readily cover the foundation and the smaller size gives them a smaller area to heat and work in.  If a large swarm use a 2nd box or add a second box and let them build that out before moving to a standard size hive.

Hi all,

I have two 3# pkgs coming soon and have purchased 2 nucs for their new home. Each nuc has 2 medium 5 frame boxes. My question as I read Brian"s post is should I start with the bottom box only and add the super as they fill out the comb on the first five frames or do I start with the two stacked on there to begin with?

[jimmyo]

Isn't this why we use follower boards sometimes? They fill up the hive and stay warm and moth free at the same time.
Jim

[Michael Bush]

Use the closed cell pink or blue styrofoam.  They will chew up the coarse white stuff and the static makes it stick to them and verything else...

[DavePaulson]

Yep i did use the blue stuff. Bees appear to be doing very well today.

Dave

[Brian D. Bray]

Shakerbeeman,

I would use just the 1st medium nuc box for the package for the 1st week or so.  After that, how soon I would add it would depend on the pace at which the bees are building out the comb.  Remeber the 80% rule when supering or switching from nucs to supers.  2 medium nuc boxes makes one medium super.