View Full Version : Any tips for installing (and removing) nuc frames?
TheCheatOSX
02-12-2008, 05:13 PM
I'm building my TBHs to lang dimensions (well, double wide langs) just to keep my options open. One of these options was to be able to purchase nucs for my first bees (the advantages seemed overwhelming). Does anyone have any tips for using traditional nucs in a TBH? I'm guessing that I'll have to cover the top of the frames with a wood bar or something (suggestions?) so they can't fly up into the roof area. I'd like to get the frames out of there as quickly as possible so they can start raising "normal" size brood in there own "natural" comb. How do I go about doing that?
-Chris
drobbins
02-12-2008, 05:19 PM
keep in mind that with a hive like you describe you can use frames with no foundation and get "natural" comb
also prevents attachments to the side of the hive
here's some pics of one I built
http://www.drobbins.net/bee's/lh/lh.html
Dave
TheCheatOSX
02-13-2008, 12:34 PM
True, but one of the other advantages of using top bars vs frames is cost.
Nice documentation of the hives, I've added it to my bookmarks. What are the bottom slats for? Structural stability?
Anyone have any tips on getting the nuc frames out of the hive?
-Chris
drobbins
02-13-2008, 05:23 PM
the slats are to prevent drafts while allowing ventilation
probably overkill
here's a good idea
make the overall width of the hive "exactly" the width of 2 regular lang supers (32-1/2")
that gives you the option of putting 2 supers above it during the flow in the future if you should decide you want to
options are good:)
(opps!, I see from another thread you already thought of that)
as far as getting the original frames out of the hive, wait till the weather is warm so you don't have a danger of chilling any brood in them, and move them out of the broodnest one at a time
don't move the queen with one, leave her in the broodnest
maybe one a week
the brood will emerge and you can do whatever you want
leave em in for the next flow and the bees will fill them and you can harvest
Dave
I'm building my TBHs to lang dimensions (well, double wide langs) just to keep my options open. One of these options was to be able to purchase nucs for my first bees (the advantages seemed overwhelming). Does anyone have any tips for using traditional nucs in a TBH? I'm guessing that I'll have to cover the top of the frames with a wood bar or something (suggestions?) so they can't fly up into the roof area. I'd like to get the frames out of there as quickly as possible so they can start raising "normal" size brood in there own "natural" comb. How do I go about doing that?
-Chris
It will never happen as you are planning it. The bees will never abandon the nuc frames as long as the Queen has access to them. There are only two ways to do what you want to do and they both deal with seperating the queen from the old frames.
Use a queen excluder to seperate the queen from the frames and remove the frames as soon as all the brood is hatched.
place the frames in the TBH up side down and in no set patteren so they are naturally abandonded. Unless there is some established comb for the queen to start laying in you risk absconding here!
When establishing a TBH keep in mind what is less stressful for the bees if you shake them in they know how to deal with that because it is identical to a swarm. If you start messing with thier environment you are forcing them to react and waste time getting thier environment to something they can work with.
The advantage you talk about does really not exist and is a total misconception when dealing with a TBH!!!