checking an idea

[daknoodle]

Okay, here is the idea:

I'm getting a possible 10 frame nuc(might be 5 frame all depends on how well it builds up) near the end of April, begining of May. I'm putting it into a long horizontal hive (see MB and drobbins' ideas and websites for what I'm doing my design off of). Acording (I think) to MB it should hold roughly 33 frames. So, I plan on putting the ten frames in with 9 empty frames sandwiched between them, then I plan on making starter strips for the other frames. I'm making migratory covers, with one of them I'm going to use screen framing to make it into a top entrance (thanks MB for the idea). So I'll put the entrance at one end and the frames from the nuc at the other end. So here are the questions:

1. will sandwiching 9 empty frames between the 10 frames from the nuc harm the hive too much?

2. in order to save on cost, can I use the foundation that I have (none small cell) to make small starter strips for the rest of the hive and still be okay on the move to natural cell?

3. can someone help explain the process on rotating frames out of the hive in order to get to the point that I'm working with all natural cell frames that started from neither the nuc or the starter strips?

4. to install the nuc into the new hive, all I do is put the frames in the hive and shake out the bees, correct?


I think thats it for now, thanks all.

Doug

[NorthALABeeKeep]

From what little I know ...
I've never heard of a 10 frame nuc, that sounds like a single box hive.
1. I probably wouldn't sandwich all 9 empty frames between the drawn frames. It would break up the cluser too much. Try maybe sandwiching 3 empties then put the rest of the empties together ... some on one side of the cluster and some on the other side.
2. yes you can use what foundation you have for starter strips
3. haven't done this yet but maybe one to two frames at a time, then wait until they draw out the comb before putting more in
4. yes

Good Luck

[Michael Bush]

>1. will sandwiching 9 empty frames between the 10 frames from the nuc harm the hive too much?

Yes. Work them in slowly. Make sure the bees catch up as you go. In other words, put in two or three (depending on the strength of the hive) when those are drawn and layed up with brood, then put some more in. Just slide them over to put the new ones in.

>2. in order to save on cost, can I use the foundation that I have (none small cell) to make small starter strips for the rest of the hive and still be okay on the move to natural cell?

I haven't tried it. I'd love to hear some reports back. BWranger (Dennis) says the top row will be large anyway. I've never measured it but the top row is usually taller than it is wide and looks bigger. I would try to have only one row of cells showing if you do that. It will probably only be a 5/8" strip or so. Experiment and find out how wide it needs to be.

>3. can someone help explain the process on rotating frames out of the hive in order to get to the point that I'm working with all natural cell frames that started from neither the nuc or the starter strips?

I woulnd't rotate anything out until they are all drawn. Then you can, as you are working with them anyway, keep a metric ruler in your pocket and measure cell sizes at the center of the combs. I'd mark them on top. If they are 4.9mm or below I'd leave them. If they are above that I'd try to work the bigger ones out to the outside first. When they have no brood on them I'd pull them and extract them and cut the comb out and just put the empty frame back into the brood nest. You need to feed the empty frames into the brood nest when the brood nest starts to contract and get backfilled in the spring to prevent swarming anyway. Don't get in a rush. Just go with the bees and keep working things the direction you want them. Smaller in the middle of the brood nest and larger on the outsides. The bees tend to do this anyway as you feed in the empty ones.

>4. to install the nuc into the new hive, all I do is put the frames in the hive and shake out the bees, correct?

That's about it.

[Michael Bush]

>Acording (I think) to MB it should hold roughly 33 frames.

If you make it three boxes long (16 1/4" times three equals 48 3/4") then yes, it will hold 33 frames. If you have all the propolis off of the end bars. smile.gif

36 if you cut the end bars down to 1 1/4". smile.gif