NUCS - 8 Frame Mediums

[rail]

Anyone using 8 frame mediums for nucleus hives?

[Michael Bush]

I do.

[rail]

Can you overwinter on 8 frames only? Will the cluster move side to side during the winter?

[Michael Bush]

>Can you overwinter on 8 frames only?

It kind of depends on the winter.  Usually yes.

>Will the cluster move side to side during the winter?

Yes.

[OldMech]

I use ten frame mediums, and this winter my bees utilized reserves from the four corners. LAST winter they didnt, it was so cold so long that they stove piped straight up to the top..
   In a normal winter, they should have ample temps and time to move to reserves, wherever they are in the hive (41st parallel/midwest)..  but it also depends omn the size of your cluster, and the type of bees you have.. Italians from the south burn through more reserves than russians or Carniolans..
   My Dark bees seem to winter well in a 5 over 5 medium nuc style configuration, (10 medium frames) and I had a few hives survive the winter in ten over ten mediums.. I have never tried a single medium box.

[rail]

>Can you overwinter on 8 frames only?

It kind of depends on the winter.  Usually yes.

>Will the cluster move side to side during the winter?

Yes.

When you prepare your 8 frame medium nucs for winter are all the frames covered with bees?

I need to overwinter queens for winter loses and most of my equipment is 8 frame. Would like to develop a system of overwintering in a single 8 frame medium. I live in the Piedmont of North Carolina and our weather is fickle, warm and cold days during the same week.

[Michael Bush]

>When you prepare your 8 frame medium nucs for winter are all the frames covered with bees?

No.

>I need to overwinter queens for winter loses and most of my equipment is 8 frame. Would like to develop a system of overwintering in a single 8 frame medium.

For a winter queen bank you will need a terrarium heater and a strong hive to steal a few bees out of in late winter.  You have to keep them warm enough that they don't cluster or most of the queens will get left out in the cold.  But that makes shorter lived bees so they will need a boost in late winter.

If you just want to overwinter nucs:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesnucs.htm#overwinternucs

> I live in the Piedmont of North Carolina and our weather is fickle, warm and cold days during the same week.

So is ours.  It could be -4 F one day and 70 F two days later.  And that is just typical winter weather.  I once saw it drop from about 60 F to 0 F in about six hours or less.  That was crazy.

[Jim134]

     I am use Michael  Palmer of Vermont method of overwintering nucs the only difference is I cut down the deeps to mediums and I went 4 over 4  if you do it this way you can use ten frame outer covers outer and ten frame bottom boards.you can buy this equipment at Betterbee . You will need to cut down the deeps to mediums.
download betterbee 2015 catalog download the main homepage and look at Pg.35

http://www.betterbee.com/


"sustainable beekeeping"
by Michael  Palmer
https://youtu.be/nznzpiWEI8A

Keeping Bees in Frozen North America
by Michael  Palmer 
https://youtu.be/fFanJbaigM4


          BEE HAPPY Jim 134