Best way to overwinter 8 frame nucs in mid-atlantic clima - singles? stacks? divided?

1787 Views 6 Replies 4 Participants Last post by burns375, Jul 4, 2014

BlueRidgeBee

Discussion Starter · Jul 4, 2014

I want to try overwintering nucs this year and utilizing them more in the yard. I use all 8 frame mediums and wonder if there is a significant difference in wintering them
1. as singles,
2. as stacks of two or three nucs (with double screen boards inbetween); or,
3. divided into two nucs per box, with a second medium super (for a 4 over 4 arrangement if I can squeeze all 8 frames in -- not sure if that is possible).

The single mediums seem a little shallow for overwintering a nuc, though I could do some insulation above, below and even wrap them -- not sure if they could cluster well enough in that shallow space.

I find the stacks with screened boards (which I've used happily to start nucs) are a little harder to manage and inspect since you set whole nucs aside to inspect those lower in the stacks. But in the winter, they would share some heat.

If I divided the 8 frame into two 4 frames with a very thin divider board, I guess the 'supers' would have to be specially built half boxes (per M Palmer's videos where he uses divided 10 frame for brood chamber of a double nuc then super's with a nuc size box. Which seems like extra work and equipment if there are other options. Upside would be they could share heat in the center of the box through that thin divider. Downside would be very tight to work the frames.

If anyone has compared any of these set-ups, I would so appreciate if you would share your experience. Thanks in advance.

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David LaFerney

· #2 · Jul 4, 2014

I overwinter 8 frame medium singles every year without any complications. I always do mt camp sugar as insurance though.

I have done divided 4x2 and stacked singles as well and i very much prefer just using 8 frame medium stand alones - for the reasons you have speculated. Also with the 4x2 hives one hive will often get weak because bees move next door for some reason.

An 8 frame single just makes a handy unit which is easy to work with, and has no trouble making it in my area.

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BlueRidgeBee

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 4, 2014

That is great to hear David. Thanks! I do love the ease of the singles. So I may only need to stack my nucs if I want twice as many without my spouse knowing! haha ;-)

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tsmullins

· #4 · Jul 4, 2014

Because we are north of you, and at a higher elevation, our winters are considerably cooler than yours. We have successfully overwintered single eight frame medium nucs the last two years. There maybe advantages to overwintering other ways. We have not seen a need to.

We try to make our nucs after the sourwood flow. The first year we had a severe drought. The bees did not fill all eight frames on some boxes and still overwintered fine.

Shane

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BlueRidgeBee

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 4, 2014

It's good to hear that too tsmullins. We are at 3000 feet which makes it seem a little more northerly than our latitude would suggest. I'm sold on trying out my single mediums. Are you getting sourwood flow yet? Ours has just started in the region -- my first with sourwood -- and I sure hope we have some in my bee radius! The girls have started working something very busily and are bringing in white pollen too. Do you see white pollen off sourwood?

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tsmullins

· #6 · Jul 4, 2014

BlueRidgeBee said:
. I'm sold on trying out my single mediums. Are you getting sourwood flow yet? Ours has just started in the region -- my first with sourwood -- and I sure hope we have some in my bee radius! The girls have started working something very busily and are bringing in white pollen too. Do you see white pollen off sourwood?

Hey BlueRidge,

We like the single eight frame mediums as well. We do run a lot of deep equipment as well. A five frame deep or an eight frame medium are both fine. We got started with deep equipment. But I like working with mediums better.

We are just starting our Sourwood flow as well. Not sure of sourwood pollen color. There is a large sourwood flow on the college campus where I work. Will check it Monday. I have a few sourwoods in my yard. Three that are small and one that is about 70' tall. The blooms on the tall one are so high you can barely see them (it is also at the top of a hill in my yard - so you are looking up even from the base of the tree).

If memory serves me correct, chicory pollen is white.

If the sourwood flow is strong, we can get a super of sourwood honey per strong colony.

Shane

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burns375

· #7 · Jul 4, 2014

I wintered a 6 frame deep nuc with a new queen last winter. Just make sure they are heavy.

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