new beekeeper in texas

[Deb]

I'm brand new to beekeeping. I pick up a 5 frame nuc mid-April. I'm nervous because I don't want to do something wrong to hurt the bees. We are moving to our new acreages in June. I'm still picking up the bees this April even though I will not be there full time. I plan on setting the bees up , staying for 4 days, leaving and then returning every two weeks until I move early June. I have some basic questions: 1) I plan on filling the quart jar feeder when I leave in 4 days. So do I need to do something else? 2) Do I leave the bees with the bottom board in place or only the screen on bottom? 3) The nuc has 5 frames that will replace 5 frames in my langstroth box. This leaves 5 free frames. Will this be enough frames for the two weeks I'm gone? I've read so much and still have these basic questions. Can anyone help?

[GSF]

Hey Deb, Welcome! I haven't had bees even a year yet so most of your questions I'll leave to the experienced ones to answer. May I suggest you update your profile? A lot of answers are location specific.

I also recommend you read up on relocating bees. (from what I've "read") When you move them close them up after dark on account of the foragers. Also don't let them stay cooped up too long if it's hot or they'll overheat. Strap them down good and tight so the hive don't bounce and separate or turn over.

[10framer]

welcome to beekeeping and the forum.  now i'm going to write the one line i've seen written the most since i joined. 
go back and put your location in your profile.  beekeeping varies a lot from one place to another and someone local can give you better answers a lot of the time.  texas is a big state and what works in del rio may not in houston or dallas.
there are a lot of variables that determine wether 5 frames would be enough to hold them for 2 weeks.  if the nuc is strong with a lot of emerging brood and there is a flow on i'd say it's probably not.  on the other hand, if you only get a couple of frames of open brood and you are in between major flows it may be.

[tefer2]

Hi Deb, welcome to the group.

[vmmartin]

Welcome. What part of Texas?

[rwlaw]

 Do you have a nectar flow going on in your area? A qt isn't going to last only a day or so once the get going on drawing comb and there isn't a strong flow.
Not sure what screen setup your talking about, but a bottom board and entrance reducer is the best bet for a hive starting out.
You'll probably be ok w/ the five bare frames, it'll take a week or so to get cranked up.
What about a water source.
I'd also be concerned about leaving and the possibility of them getting robbed out, if you've got strong hives in your area.
You still got a couple weeks, see if you can find somebody to look after them while your gone. No use coming back to a heartache if you can help it.

[NotactJack]

I'm in south Texas near Mexico. If you're in a similar desert climate the mesquite trees which are our big money maker should be in bloom. I would open the screened bottom board up. A 5 frame nuc should have enough foragers to provide so the quart should be enough to start. Also I think 5 frames to draw out should take a little longer then two weeks.

[sc-bee]

A quart ain't gonna go far. I would go for a gallon. Of course like said above depends on weather you have a flow or not. Thing is if they prefer what's blooming, if anything, they will leave the feed. But they can.t eat what they don't have. To me two weeks is quite a while to leave them in limbo, especially the first time, and not know. On the next trip you will have a better idea. Spend the few extra bucks and leave the extra feed on them. Why risk losing them over a little sugar water. And as said above a feeder robbers can not access, if any around, would definitely be better. As far as the new five frames probably bee good for two weeks.

[Rurification]

Hi Deb! -

You'll love having bees.  This is a great forum and you'll get a lot of great answers to all of your questions.  Best of luck to you!

[10framer]

if it took bees more than two weeks to draw out 5 frames during the best flow i'd be concerned.  sounds like south texas is a tough place to keep bees. 

[T Beek]

How far is the move?  If its over 10 miles (more would be even better) I'd just keep them at home until the move.  NUC's can be tricky and NEED food to survive as well as regular monitoring IMO.  If flows are  the least bit iffy you could come back to a weakened/stressed out hive after 2 weeks.... and no food.

If you MUST move to the new location, you're going to have to find a way to assure they have the resources needed for survival.... AKA Sugar, Syrup, Honey or a combination when uncertain whether a flow is available.

As a new Beek you likely don't have any 'empty comb' that could be filled with syrup or sugar...so you may have to buy several of those 'frame feeders' and put as many as you think they're going to need while you're away.   I guess that's what I'd do anyway.... Good Luck.

[NotactJack]

if it took bees more than two weeks to draw out 5 frames during the best flow i'd be concerned.  sounds like south texas is a tough place to keep bees.  

Last year on a package I hived into a nuc it took about two weeks to draw out 5 deep frames. Then about two more weeks to draw out the rest when I moved them into a Deep. A cut out I had about 10 combs in a KTBH then a skunk/raccoon knocked over the hive ate and all the brood I found a softball sized cluster on a nearby mesquite tree. I rehived those girls into a deep with a full frame of capped brood and it took about 5-6 weeks to fill up. That hive I was able to harvest a medium in October and they filled it back up by November they were my only survivors from the winter. And I've split them on the 3rd and it looks like I will need to split them again. (They are in a orange orchard now)

All this was in the middle of a flow. ...but last year was a brutal drought....now we are getting a ton of rain so it should be a lot better.

Sorry I had to edit I couldn't. Figure out what I was typing.

[10framer]

that's tough jack.  i had the opposite problem last year, rain cancelled most of the flows here but they were drawing out comb faster than that.  good luck this year. 
looks like the o.p. went awol on us.

[Dallasbeek]

Maybe this is a little off subject, but somebody mentioned moving.  The old saying is you can move bees two feet or two miles, but Michael Bush on his site tells how to move them just about anywhere.  I bought a hive from a friend two blocks away, followed MB's advice and they stayed where we moved them to, with none of the foragers going back to their old homestead.  I'd agree you should keep them close and move them when you move.  Good luck.  And join a beekeepers association wherever you are.  Still don't know your location, but in Dallas there's Trinity Valley Beekeepers Assoc. And Collin County has a really goof group.

Gary

[Dallasbeek]

Sorry, typing on an iPad is the pits.  collin County has a GOOD group.

Gary