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Post by rbz on Oct 2, 2011 17:55:12 GMT -7
Harry...That would be cool
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Post by bugleman on Oct 3, 2011 16:23:21 GMT -7
Ah Harry! Like you I added a 7/8" screened hole oposite the entrance to my 6 frame NW Overwinter Nukes (Ha that is what I call them). Last year my standard 5 frame nukes that were purchased were full of moisture sluges etc. But my nukes with the 7/8" ventilation hole were bone dry inside in Feb.
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Post by HarryVanderpool on Oct 31, 2011 13:57:29 GMT -7
Today, I took advantage of the nice day and wrapped up the nucs for winter. Nuc #28 lost 6 pounds! It now weighs 41.5 pounds. Nuc #22 lost 2.5 pounds. It now weighs 51.5 pounds. We'll see how they fare in another month.
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Post by rbz on Nov 2, 2011 19:34:01 GMT -7
When you say you wrap them up...What does that entail?
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Post by drew on Nov 2, 2011 21:34:53 GMT -7
Christmas paper with ribbons of course. Harry is a master wrapper
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Post by HarryVanderpool on Nov 3, 2011 8:44:32 GMT -7
I am able to reuse these foam boards year after year. I don't cover them until November or when it really cools down. Then, I cover the foam with felt to shed water. These are reused also. It may be overkill but the nucs always look great in Feb in almonds.
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Post by rbz on Nov 3, 2011 9:02:47 GMT -7
That's pretty impressive Harry. I better not show these pics to my nucs cuz they'll demand "equal rights".
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Post by HarryVanderpool on Nov 27, 2011 13:20:12 GMT -7
Time to weigh in on our two nucs. This month I will have to subtract one pound for the wrap. Nuc # 22 weighs 52 lbs minus wrap weight = 51 pounds Nuc# 28 weighs 41 lbs minus wrap weight = 40 pounds. Lets recap: Nuc 22 Nuc 28 Beginning October weight 54# 47.5# Beginning November weight 51.5# 41.5# Beginning December weight 51# 40# WOW!! What a slowdown in consumption!!Do you suppose that some weight has increased because of moisture due to the wrap? We will weigh in on them again in one month.
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Post by bugleman on Nov 28, 2011 10:09:38 GMT -7
No more brood rearing.
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Post by HarryVanderpool on Jan 1, 2012 12:32:15 GMT -7
Time to weigh in on our two overwintering nucs that we are monitoring. Weights are taken somewhere areound the beginning of each month. Nuc #22Oct= 54# Nov= 51.5# Dec=51# Jan=48.5# Nuc#28Oct= 47.5# Nov= 41.5# Dec= 40# Jan= 39# There will be one more weigh-in right before they make the trip to almonds. Once there I'll pop the lids and pull a couple of frames and shoot some pics so we can compare. Why does one weigh 9.5 pounds more than the other, yet consume more than double the amount of feed? I am guessing that they are going to lose MUCH more weight this month as brooding ramps up. We'll see. One thing is for certain; this cool dry winter has slowed them down to a crawl. The first thing everyone worries about when the subject of overwintering nucs is, "Won't they run out of feed?" Obviously the answer is no. Not if they are provisioned properly in late summer / fall for the long cold winter.
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Post by eastsidebuzz on Jan 1, 2012 13:01:19 GMT -7
I added a rim board and filled it with 1 3/4 full of sugar. Must have been 3#'s of sugar. They are gobbling it down like crazy. Should keep them until spring. Might have to fill it a couple times.
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Post by HarryVanderpool on Jan 15, 2012 14:37:22 GMT -7
Nucs quietly and peacefully awaiting the sunny days ahead.
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Post by rbz on Jan 15, 2012 15:57:17 GMT -7
You've got quite the impressive bee yard there Harry...The only thing missing in the picture is the KBT
Oh and are those Christmas tree in the background?
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Post by drew on Jan 15, 2012 18:39:32 GMT -7
You've got quite the impressive bee yard there Harry...The only thing missing in the picture is the KBT Oh and are those Christmas tree in the background? Those aren't christmas trees, that is Harry's "CASH" crop
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Post by HarryVanderpool on Jan 16, 2012 10:43:51 GMT -7
Our neighbor to the east has 125 acres of christmas trees, neighbor to the west 125 acres christmas trees. Makes real good honeydew honey!
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