Hi all....
I overwintered a 5 frame nuc, and it looks like it's going to make it! (Yay!) This was not my original intention, but we had some issues with our first attempt to transfer this nuc into a Warre box. I won't tell that whole story, but my question is this: When would be the best time to take the nuc and transfer it into a regular brood box? The bees seem to be doing OK. They have come out for brief flights (weather permitting) and we have kept feed on them all winter long. I know that it's got to be tight in the box and I'm afraid as it warms up and they get active, they will quickly run out of room and have nowhere else to go but out, so I'd like to transfer them as quickly as I can. I live in the Piedmont of North Carolina. Our last frost date is early April (if that makes any difference), but we quickly begin having nice days in March. Any suggestions??
I overwintered a 5 frame nuc, and it looks like it's going to make it! (Yay!) This was not my original intention, but we had some issues with our first attempt to transfer this nuc into a Warre box. I won't tell that whole story, but my question is this: When would be the best time to take the nuc and transfer it into a regular brood box? The bees seem to be doing OK. They have come out for brief flights (weather permitting) and we have kept feed on them all winter long. I know that it's got to be tight in the box and I'm afraid as it warms up and they get active, they will quickly run out of room and have nowhere else to go but out, so I'd like to transfer them as quickly as I can. I live in the Piedmont of North Carolina. Our last frost date is early April (if that makes any difference), but we quickly begin having nice days in March. Any suggestions??