Our NUCs have been hived!

[bzzzybee]

We picked up the two 5-frame medium nucs yesterday evening around 7:30pm (to be sure we had most of the foragers back in their homes). Both colonies are Carniolans, but one hive seems much stronger than the other, with about twice the number of bees. We peeked inside before we closed them up and the smaller colony had no bees on the top of the frames, while the larger one had bees on the top of the frames, the underside of the lid, everywhere!

We left them on our front porch overnight, keeping the cardboard boxes out of the rain we had all night. This morning Barbara and I got up early because there was a break in the rain forecast for a couple hours. The beek we got the nucs from was worried that if we didn't get them more space ASAP they might start swarm cells. So we dragged ourselves out of bed early to be sure the girls got their new accomodations as soon as possible. We carried the boxes out to the bee yard to the increasing hum of bees that know something is up.

We started with the smaller colony, smoking them front and back, and then waiting a few to let them calm down. Once the volume of the humming had settled down, we opened the box. Breaking the frames free of slightly damp cardboard was a challenge, but ultimately we were able to get the frames loose. There was plenty of capped brood, a few drone cells, but we didn't look much more closely as the morning was a bit chilly and we didn't want the girls out any longer than necessary. We moved the five frames (keeping order and orientation) into the empty bottom brood box. Then we placed the grease patty on the top of the frames, added the second medium brood box, the screened inner cover, and finally the telescoping cover. The bees stayed extremely calm throughout, with only one or two letting us know that they didn't appreciate being disturbed

I wasn't sure about adding the second box immediately, but the beek suggested it as the bees like to chimney when they're drawing comb. However, our empty frames only have starter strips, so I'm expecting to get some poorly drawn comb at first until there's enough full frames in the bottom box that I can move a couple up for them to use as a guide.

The larger colony was next, but unfortunately by the time we got to it, the smoker had gone out. Rather than fidget with it, we decided to try the install without smoking the box. The cluster had contracted a bit since yesterday (I assume due to the cooler weather), so there were only a few bees on the cover, and the frame tops were about half covered with bees. We also noticed that the bees in this box seemed to be smaller than the bees in the other hive. Remember, this was the colony the beek was concerned might swarm, so we were immediately worried when we pulled the first frame and saw large pieces dangling from the frame. But upon looking closer, it became obvious this was just burr comb. The colony was obviously more than ready for larger accomodations, and we were more than happy to oblige.

I'm not sure if it was the lack of smoke, or simply that the larger colony had more guard bees, but while the bees on the frames were very gentle, we had quite a few flyers registering their disapproval. Additionally, we took the time to remove the burr comb from the bottom of each frame, giving the guards ample time and opportunity to get nasty. Even so, they buzzed and dived a bit, but did not go so far as to try to sting us (which I greatly appreciated as Barbara was appropriately dressed, but all I had was a veil). Once the transfer was complete we left the nuc boxes next to each hive, to encourage the bees to find their way home. After a trudge back to the house, putting away the equipment, and having a cup of coffee, we headed back out to the yard to remove the boxes. We brushed the few that remained onto their respective hive entrances, and backed off to watch.

Interestingly, the smaller hive (with the larger bees) seems to be much more active. The bees were already taking orientation flights (they're so funny to watch as they spiral up, up and away!). We're keeping a close eye on the two hives. They're perfectly placed in our yard so that we can see them from the window with binoculars. The second hive (larger colony, smaller bees) is starting to get a little more active. But it's still very damp out there, with no sun and a light mist falling occasionally. So maybe they're just being smart and staying inside. We're busily mixing syrup and will be heading out later today to install baggie feeders. With the rain and cool weather forecast to last for a few days, we don't want them to be without a food source when they're trying to draw out comb.

I'll check back in with an update once we've gone back out to visit. I hope they like their new digs!

-bzzzy

[Michael Bush]

I would not add the second box until the first is at least 70% to 80% full.  Five frames out of ten is only 50% full.  They will probably do ok, but they do better when they are still small and the weather is still chilly with just as much room as they can fill.

[UtahBees]

Great experience - thanks for sharing

[bzzzybee]

Update:

After reading Mr. Bush's recommendation, and making up two baggies of syrup, we went back out to the hives and removed the frames in the top brood boxes. This left the box open to hold the baggie (we have some shallow baggie sized boxes on the way, this is just a stopgap measure until they arrive) leaving them with only the one brood box for the moment. We'll let the bees get used to the new arrangement for a few days, then start shifting frames around, adding empty frames into the cluster to help them draw straighter comb. Again, the bees were very gentle, not seeming to mind at all that we were adding large liquid items to their hives. In fact, they had already started lining up to feed by the time we were replacing the cover. We'll be making up another batch of syrup tonight, as I suspect we'll be feeding pretty regularly over the next few weeks (more cold rainy weather in the forecast).

I have to say, the baggie feeders are simply excellent for simplicity and ease of use. I greatly appreciate all of you on this forum providing your experiences. While we may be bee-ginners, it seems like we already have a decent handle on what we're doing thanks to all of you. It will be fun to see just how quickly the bees manage to disabuse of that notion! I'm sure you'll get lots of questions from us over the next year or so.

-bzzzy

[Michael Bush]

Just keep an eye on them.  If they start clustering on the top in the empty space, then put the frames back in so they don't draw comb from the lid.

[Cindi]

Bzzzy.  Nice little story, a very interesting read and you are doing well, yeah!!!  Your gonna love beekeeping, and your Wife too, this is an adventure worth living every day, every time you work with the bees it is a new one, it is so cool.  Have the best of this great and wonderful day, love our life, Cindi