View Full Version : Making Nucs in the rain=bad idea?
MrGreenThumb
07-22-2009, 11:31 PM
Hello
I am getting two Queens in tomorrow and was going to head to the farm and make 2 nucs the same day. I was not going to intoduce the queens, in these new nucs, untill a few days later. Now can I make these nucs tomorrow...in the rain? It is going to rain for the next few days and I want these queenless nucs readied by this weekend for the new queens introduction.
Jeffrey Todd
07-23-2009, 01:06 AM
Rain? You must not be from central Texas.
If you can send some rain this way, I will gladly make nucs during a downpour and let you know. Worst drought in over 50 years here.
But good luck to you. I bet it will work out just fine.
Michael Palmer
07-23-2009, 05:38 AM
I was not going to intoduce the queens, in these new nucs, untill a few days later. Now can I make these nucs tomorrow...in the rain?
Nothing wrong with working bees in showery weather. Sometimes you have to. Work between showers.
One question, though. You say you will introduce the queens a few days later. How many days? If you wait more than about two, the bees will start emergency cells, and queens might not be accepted. The longer you wait, the worse the acceptance.
MrGreenThumb
07-23-2009, 05:45 AM
Nothing wrong with working bees in showery weather. Sometimes you have to. Work between showers.
One question, though. You say you will introduce the queens a few days later. How many days? If you wait more than about two, the bees will start emergency cells, and queens might not be accepted. The longer you wait, the worse the acceptance.
I was going to wait 2 days, and even then check for queen cells before giving nucs the new queens. But was unaware of the longer I waited the less chance the queens will have at being accepted...if after removing all queen cells.
thx
Tom G. Laury
07-23-2009, 10:14 AM
Personally I put her in right when I make the nuc.
StevenG
07-23-2009, 10:29 AM
Tom, out of my ignorance (I'm going to be making nucs next week) do you have any problem with acceptance when introducing the queen in her mailing cage immediately upon making the nuc?
Thanks!
Steven
fish_stix
07-23-2009, 08:15 PM
We do it like Tom said; when you make the nuc stick the queen cage in. You can leave the corks in for a couple days then pull the candy cork and let them have at it. If the queen is not out of the cage in 4-5 days release her by pulling up one end of the screen. Normally they'll be out of the cage in a couple days after the cork's out.
beeman
07-23-2009, 10:04 PM
Making nucs in the rain will be fine. I have even done it in the snow before, or at least until my fingers got too cold. The sad part it was in Texas over Easter weekend when it was snowing. We prefer cooler weather to make splits as you know how many bees are actually in the hive because the field force is in. Also the bees are gentler on the comb and won't run around like in the heat. It also eliminates possible robbing issues.
BRescue
07-23-2009, 10:38 PM
How do you deal with the concern of chilling the brood?
>>If you wait more than about two, the bees will start emergency cells, and queens might not be accepted. The longer you wait, the worse the acceptance.
Probably would be a good idea to cut the cells if you wait a week or so to introduce the queen, but if your only talking a few days, toss them in.
Sometimes queens are not aceepted , for many of reasons, sometimes those cells can be handy to use as a back up plan, when the introduced queen isnt accepted.
I was in a tight spot, as problems sometimes happen,
my nucs were made up, and queens were delayed for a week.
I cut the cells, and made the nucs wait.
They introduced just fine, a bit behind, but they are collecting honey now.
Probably would of requeened themself just as quick, but the queens were comming, bought, and I made sure there was a place to put them,
beeman
07-24-2009, 09:04 PM
How do you deal with the concern of chilling the brood?
Keep the time that brood is exposed to a minimum meaning don't examine a frame then leave it outside the hive while you examine others and keep lids on hives as much as possible when your working them.
beeman
07-24-2009, 09:08 PM
>>If you wait more than about two, the bees will start emergency cells, and queens might not be accepted. The longer you wait, the worse the acceptance.
Probably would be a good idea to cut the cells if you wait a week or so to introduce the queen, but if your only talking a few days, toss them in.
Sometimes queens are not aceepted , for many of reasons, sometimes those cells can be handy to use as a back up plan, when the introduced queen isnt accepted.
I was in a tight spot, as problems sometimes happen,
my nucs were made up, and queens were delayed for a week.
I cut the cells, and made the nucs wait.
They introduced just fine, a bit behind, but they are collecting honey now.
Probably would of requeened themself just as quick, but the queens were comming, bought, and I made sure there was a place to put them,
I haven't tried this myself but a retired fella near me said he used to make nucs without ever putting in cells or queens. He would just make sure there were eggs being put in the nucs. From those eggs they would make a queen once they realized they were without. He claims fair success doing this and calls them "roll your owns," like the old time cigarettes.
>>"roll your owns," like the old time cigarettes.
Ha ha