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Post by Eric Walls on Sept 30, 2015 7:37:01 GMT -7
Hey Guys, I wanted to gather some opinions as to what to do with a few nucs. I made a couple last summer in order to raise my own queens. I was pretty successful and after requeening my hives I still have 2 nucs that I don't know what to do with. 1 has my old queen from last year that I was using as the queen mother, and the other has a new queen from this summer. Both nucs are still going strong and have been treated for mites. Since it's getting late in the season I need to figure out what to do.
Anyone have success in overwintering a nuc? I'm just not so sure about that.
Should I try to sell them or give them away?
or
Do I just let them be (pun intended) and see what happens?
I would appreciate any feedback. Eric
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Post by drew on Oct 1, 2015 12:52:46 GMT -7
I say overwinter them. It is a bit tricky, but with trial and error you will figure it out. If they make GREAT, they will boom the following year. If not, Well you are not out anything, in fact you are knowledge ahead.
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Post by Eric Walls on Oct 1, 2015 14:13:53 GMT -7
ya, that's what I was sort of leaning to. I have a bale of straw I was going to use in my Halloween decoration, maybe put the nucs side by side and surround them with the bale? Do you think I ought to just keep some sugar syrup on them until it cools and then switch to sugar?
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Post by HarryVanderpool on Oct 3, 2015 3:53:40 GMT -7
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Post by drew on Oct 3, 2015 11:00:09 GMT -7
feed them up like a hive. (kind late for that now). Then you can add sugar if they get low during the winter. ( trial and error will teach that part). NOW this is where i differ from Harry. BUT for good reason. I do not go to almonds etc. My bees sit in same spot all year and just make honey (hopefully). I do not wrap them, put straw around them or any other such things that would keep them warmer, etc.. CAUSE i don't want them to big to soon. What good is it if they plug out and swarm. Soo, i do try and keep the rain off them but other then that they are out like a normal deep hive. Also control the feed to help control there population. Not to big to soon. Haaaa, who is that for advice. good luck and happy nuc(ing)
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Post by rbz on Oct 5, 2015 13:46:14 GMT -7
The best thing you can do is make sure your bees are as mite free as possible. Drew is right...treat them as you would your other hives. No need to shelter them too much Nucs do best when they're plugged with bees. IMO pound per pound, nucs winter better.
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Post by Eric Walls on Oct 6, 2015 8:39:24 GMT -7
Thanks so much guys! I treated them for mites like my other hives, and did the alcohol wash. I have less than 1% mites right now so it looks good. I gave them a little pollen but have been mostly feeding sugar syrup. Did an inspection last weekend and they are full. I was using these nucs to make queens and was actually surprised I was so successful. I'm just a regular backyard beekeeper and I was trying to make some queens in the summer to save a few bucks. It would be great if I could get them over winter, but we'll see. If they don't make it then I'm not really out anything but it would still be nice to have that extra queen come spring.
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Post by drew on Oct 8, 2015 0:41:29 GMT -7
AND THAT MY FRIENDS IS A BEEKEEPER, NOT A BEE-HAVER
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