Medium Frame Nucs and Swarm Split

Tigerfansga · April 20, 2011, 10:22:20 PM

I am looking to convert all my sups to medium frames. I can get 5 frame Nuc equipment that is medium size as well. If I setup a medium nuc and want to do a swarm split - queen and couple of frames of brood and honey - do I need to do anything different since I will be using mediums instead of deeps?

organicfarmer · April 20, 2011, 10:28:18 PM

i would go with more than 5 frames. See what Michael Bush does: i think he uses a whole 10 frames medium hive body as a nuc equivalent. When you split you just pick up one of the x mediums that form your hive and create a split.

kbenz · April 20, 2011, 10:46:53 PM

I believe MB only uses 8 frame equipment

organicfarmer · April 20, 2011, 10:55:33 PM

Yes you are right, that fact slipped my mind. So his nucs are medium 8 frames.

FRAMEshift · April 20, 2011, 11:02:45 PM

Quote from: Tigerfansga on April 20, 2011, 10:22:20 PM
do I need to do anything different since I will be using mediums instead of deeps?

A five frame medium is large enough to do a split, but you will have to watch it closely since the bees will outgrow the space quickly. You will want to add a second 5 frame medium nuc box as soon as the first box has 4 full frames.

For comparison, a 5 frame medium has the same space as 3 deep frames, so you can see that's a pretty small split.

Michael Bush · April 21, 2011, 09:24:35 AM

I like strong splits if I'm trying to make increase, like 16 medium frames of bees brood and honey...

Tigerfansga · April 21, 2011, 12:23:14 PM

In this case, I'm not trying for an increase, but only trying to prevent a full swarm with a fake one.

Michael Bush · April 22, 2011, 01:40:04 AM

Heading off a swarm if they made up their mind to swarm, usually requires removing more than just a couple of frames of brood and the queen.

Tigerfansga · April 22, 2011, 08:00:18 AM

How many frames? Right now, this hive has a deep and a medium with brood, honey and pollen. The medium is just about full and deep I did not look at this last time, but they had it about 1/2 to 3/4 full from memory (I don't have my log book with me at the moment) full with mostly stores and some brood/larvae. I added honey sups before taking a vacation so they would have plenty room, and they had not started filling them when I last inspected.

At this point, I'm not really sure what to do. My equipment is all 10 frame equipment. I am wanting to go mediums only, but my total investment in 10 frame pieces is too much to throw it all away for 8 frame equipment. Plus I have a local supplier that only carries 10 frame equipment.

Michael Bush · April 22, 2011, 09:50:33 AM

You can take the entire medium off and use it for a split. Add another to replace that one and make room.