Follow your plan, it sounds fine. When I've hived nucs I move the frames right into their new brood box and leave the entrance open at 1" just like you're planning to do. They orient and go on about their business. The only possible issue I see is if the nuc originated less than 3 miles or so from your bee yard. In that case, some of the foragers could pick up on landmarks and return to the original hive location.
Installing nuc
I searched for a thread but didn't find the answers yet.
I am going to pick up and install a 5 frame nuc in 3 days. I've read that people will open the nuc entrance and leave the bees alone to "discover" their area for a day before they put the frames into the hive. By setting the nuc box on top of the hive. That seems unnecessary, I was/am planning on driving them to my bee yard after I pick them up and place the frames into the hive. Is there anything bad about placing them in the hive the morning that I pick them up?
Also, I am going to reduce the entrance to 1 inch opening once installed. Do nucs need to be "trapped" in the hive for a day like when installing a package or are they well acquainted and be allowed to fly in and out the moment they are installed?
The additional 5 frames I will add, will be drawn and we have stuff blooming somewhat well around now, think I should mix up a gallon or so of syrup for them to start out after the install? Thanks, juzzer
I am going to pick up and install a 5 frame nuc in 3 days. I've read that people will open the nuc entrance and leave the bees alone to "discover" their area for a day before they put the frames into the hive. By setting the nuc box on top of the hive. That seems unnecessary, I was/am planning on driving them to my bee yard after I pick them up and place the frames into the hive. Is there anything bad about placing them in the hive the morning that I pick them up?
Also, I am going to reduce the entrance to 1 inch opening once installed. Do nucs need to be "trapped" in the hive for a day like when installing a package or are they well acquainted and be allowed to fly in and out the moment they are installed?
The additional 5 frames I will add, will be drawn and we have stuff blooming somewhat well around now, think I should mix up a gallon or so of syrup for them to start out after the install? Thanks, juzzer
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
Where does the idea of "trapping" come from? No need to (and I don't) do it with either packages or nucs.
The syrup you provide will most likely be stored - not a bad thing as no one knows what the weather will be like in the next few weeks. They'll be able to access the syrup 24/7 too.
I primarily let the bees fly from their new home with the nuc on top of the hive they'll ultimately be installed in when I pick up the nuc in the evening. I don't see any flaws in your plan - particularly if the nuc is busting at the seams population wise. The feeding will depend in part on what they are bringing with them for stores.
The syrup you provide will most likely be stored - not a bad thing as no one knows what the weather will be like in the next few weeks. They'll be able to access the syrup 24/7 too.
I primarily let the bees fly from their new home with the nuc on top of the hive they'll ultimately be installed in when I pick up the nuc in the evening. I don't see any flaws in your plan - particularly if the nuc is busting at the seams population wise. The feeding will depend in part on what they are bringing with them for stores.
The only flaw I see is how pissed the bees are likely to be right after the drive. I would definitely let them settle down, even if just for a couple hours before installing. If this is an established nuc, they should have adequate stores already. Look at the amount of stored honey they have, and then make the decision to feed or not. I myself am not a fan of feeding, especially when things are blooming. Take a look at the bee population, too. A one inch entrance doesn't allow for much bee traffic. You might consider 4". You be the judge. Don't trap them in...they will stay with their queen and the brood.
Don't trap them. Too easy to fry a nuc....
Before I put the nucs that I have raised this spring into a 10 frame box, I put a deep 5 frame super on top of the 5 frame nuc and let them draw out and move into the upper frames. When I put them in the 10 frame box, I put all the brood in the center and the honey on the edges. I was able to put a super on them quickly by doing that. I think 5 frames of bees build up more quickly in a 5 over 5 than in a 10 frame box. It doesn't, or I guess I should say, shouldn't take as many bees to heat a 5 over 5.
If a flow is on its way I wouldn't bother w/ the syrup. Otherwise it seems you have a good sensible plan. Install them when you get them where you want them. I can see reducing the entrance to about half but I don't see why you need to reduce it that far.I searched for a thread but didn't find the answers yet.
I am going to pick up and install a 5 frame nuc in 3 days. I've read that people will open the nuc entrance and leave the bees alone to "discover" their area for a day before they put the frames into the hive. By setting the nuc box on top of the hive. That seems unnecessary, I was/am planning on driving them to my bee yard after I pick them up and place the frames into the hive. Is there anything bad about placing them in the hive the morning that I pick them up?
Also, I am going to reduce the entrance to 1 inch opening once installed. Do nucs need to be "trapped" in the hive for a day like when installing a package or are they well acquainted and be allowed to fly in and out the moment they are installed?
The additional 5 frames I will add, will be drawn and we have stuff blooming somewhat well around now, think I should mix up a gallon or so of syrup for them to start out after the install? Thanks, juzzer
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
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