ventilation for nuc and syrup question...

[cdanderson]

Question # 1:
I built a standard 5 frame nuc box with the front entrance and solid bottom - havent finished the top yet. This will be a swarm catcher or extra hive in an emergency. Because my apiary will be in full sun , I am concerned about ventilation. Can I ...or should I... do anything to prepare for this ?

Question #2:
I see alot of info about feeding bees at certain time. Exactly "what" are you feeding them - is it the 1:1 sugar /water ratio.

thanks
charlotte

[djuniorfan8]

Charlotte,
I use two different vent systems on my NUCs. Some NUCs I make with screen bottoms on them, others i simply make an extra auger hole on the opposite side of the entrance and staple or tape window screen over it. You can also just crack the top a little with a stick. Yes, most people feed bees either a 1to1 or 2to1 sugar water solution.
-Tim

[berkshire bee]

Charlotte, I also built some nuc boxes with the solid bottom from the beesource plans rather than the Langstroth style . After I finished I also wondered about feeding since you can't use an entrance feeder and I didn't want to take up a frame space with a DB feeder. So, I built a few more boxes without top or bottom similar to a regular hive body that can be used as a second story if needed or to cover a small bucket style feeder placed on the inner cover. They have worked well so far. You can also make modified inner cover with as many screen covered ventilation holes as needed. The best way to remember ratio is 1:1 in spring simulates nectar flow, 2:1 in fall for winter stores. Tony

[cdanderson]

Thank you both. I will probably drill in an extra screen hole . My hives will be in full sun as I was told that is best here rather than full shade.

Most folks around here dont use an inner cover. I havent had a chance to ask why but I think I heard someone say it just gives the SHB a place to live. I build a telescoping cover. One guy has a nuc with a "nuc" shallow super on top and those bees overwintered in it.

For my regular hive - I guess I will invest in a top feeder. Those of you who use buckets - you remove the telescoping cover - leave the inner cover on and then set the bucket over a hole in the inner cover as I understand.

thanks for the hints

[riverrat]

I have been feeding 35 hives I started from 5 frame nucs I started out with the inner covers on all but one hive ( mom says I flunked kindergarden and dont count well) the hive without the inner cover was doing far better than the ones with. I removed the innercover on a few more of the hives that wass my slowest to build to see what happened they to took off and appear to do better. I finally removed all innercovers I am thinking the bees have quicker and better access to the feeder with the inner cover removed I am using half gallon pickle jars from walmart ($2.48 each and you get the pickles). with the inner cover removed I am able to get the feed directly over the brood nest and to the edge where I am wanting them to build comb. I
have had zero trouble with burr comb not real scientific experiment but this is what I have obsereved in my hives. I hived them april 25th all but 5 have drawn out 10 frames and are in the 2nd deep drawing comb