Nuc entrance

[power napper]

After studying and contemplating the next move I decided to just use medium supers for nucs this year, divided in half with five frames to a nuc. Now the question is this:
I see supers divided into three nucs with two entrances on one end and the center nucs entrance at the other end--makes sense. Would there be any problem placeing both of my entrances on the front of my super? One entrance at the far left and the other at the far right? I do not foresee any problem but figured better safe than sorry.
Thanks.

[George Fergusson]

I'd think there'd be more confusion and drifting with both or all 3 entrances on one end, but folks with actual experience in the matter might say different. Drifting workers would be one thing, having a mated queen return from her mating flight and entering the wrong hole could be disasterous.

I'm planning on making some 4-way nucs in shallow supers and will be putting an entrance on each side.

[Ribster]

I agree with George, but on another note:
How are you going to fit all 10 frames in the super plus a divider while leaving adequate bee space? I guess you would get the additional half of a frame, but it seems like it would be terrible to have to remove it.

[George Fergusson]

Are you asking me Ribster, or power napper.. or both?

I'm putting 4 2-frame mating nucs in a shallow with 1" boards for dividers.

George-

[Michael Bush]

If you use a one by (3/4") you can fit four frames on each side. If you cut a 1/4" groove and use a pice of 1/4" laun, then I think you can get five on each side. Especially if you shave them down to 1 1/4" smile.gif

I think you can get by with them on the same end. It's just more likely to help with drifting to have them on different sides. You'll get a little more drifting and an occasional queen that goes back to the wrong nuc after mating. But paint some colored shapes around the holes and you'll get less again.

[Kris^]

1/4" luan will work. Just make sure you scrape all the propolis off the frame shoulders.