Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: Two Bees on September 25, 2009, 09:04:29 am

Title: Deep Hivebodies to Use as Nucs
Post by: Two Bees on September 25, 2009, 09:04:29 am
I read the old posts (and MB's website) about modifying mediums to use as nucs.  I am assuming that you can do the same thing with a 10 frame deep box with a slot cut down the middle to insert a 1/4" Luan board. 

My question:  Is there enough room to put 5 frames on each side?  Or are you limited to 4 frames on each side that leaves enough room for the bees to get on top of the frames and have access to feeding syrup?
Title: Re: Deep Hivebodies to Use as Nucs
Post by: Tyro on September 25, 2009, 10:03:56 am
I have done it with deep hive bodies.  You can get 5 frames across, but it is VERY tight.  I have put in division board feeders and have had to reduce to 3 frames to get it to fit.

Title: Re: Deep Hivebodies to Use as Nucs
Post by: danno on September 25, 2009, 01:38:49 pm
If you use thin material like masonite you can easily fit 5 frames.  I have some of these that I used for splits this past spring.  One problem that I found with them is when I sold some of these.  When I rehived these in customers deeps I tranferred the frames but couldn't shake the remaining bee's in on the first side.  I spent alot of time brushing them out the enterance into there boxes.  The second side went fast.  Just a good shake and I was out of there.  I preferr single 5 frames for this reason
Title: Re: Deep Hivebodies to Use as Nucs
Post by: Two Bees on September 25, 2009, 03:24:52 pm
That's a good point, Danno!  I had not thought of how to get the hanger's on bees out of the duplex.  I was just trying to think of a good way to doubling up when I make splits early next spring (assuming everybody makes it through the winter).

I may just bite the bullet and by about a dozen, 5 frame nucs.  I could raise 4 frame nucs but most people starting out prefer five frames.
Title: Re: Deep Hivebodies to Use as Nucs
Post by: danno on September 25, 2009, 03:57:08 pm
I have a bunch of nuc's 9"s wide with a solid attached bottom and a hole drilled for a enterance.  With the bottom they dont need any kind of box joint to be strong.
Title: Re: Deep Hivebodies to Use as Nucs
Post by: Michael Bush on September 26, 2009, 06:03:54 pm
>My question:  Is there enough room to put 5 frames on each side?

With a 1/4" divider, yes, but it's tight.

>  Or are you limited to 4 frames on each side that leaves enough room for the bees to get on top of the frames and have access to feeding syrup?

How are you going to feed syrup without them getting to the other side?  Not saying it can't be done, but I'm not sure I understand your question. Of course you can build a division feeder and then do four on each side.
Title: Re: Deep Hivebodies to Use as Nucs
Post by: bfriendly on September 27, 2009, 03:15:34 pm
If you are not planning to sell these nucs you can just take 2 full hive bodies and place them side by side shake the extra bees out front in the grass, they will reorient to the entrance closest to the one they were using
Title: Re: Deep Hivebodies to Use as Nucs
Post by: Two Bees on September 28, 2009, 10:06:43 am
Good morning!

I'm planning on selling some nucs next spring because I don't need the extra hives.  I plan to split to help with the swarming.

MB, I'm thinking of building the nucs with a center dividing board as you mentioned.  Thinking of using two separate inner covers with center holes in them that I can feed through with a jar of syrup.  Cover the whole thing with an empty deep and top cover.  Haven't really worked out the details yet on the concept but I'm just thinking of a "duplex" type of nuc.  May not work too well since I plan to sell these nucs as danno mentioned above.

Thoughts?

Title: Re: Deep Hivebodies to Use as Nucs
Post by: Michael Bush on September 28, 2009, 08:51:01 pm
Jars work well.  Separate inner covers work well.
Title: Re: Deep Hivebodies to Use as Nucs
Post by: heaflaw on September 28, 2009, 11:54:19 pm
I've made nucs like that with separate inner covers for each half.  If you feed with jars on the holes, first staple pieces of hardware cloth over the holes so the bees cannot get out when you change jars.  To divide the deep, I use a frame with cardboard stapled on both sides tall enough and wide enough to prevent bees from being able to get to the other side.  4 frames on each side.  I run 9 frames in all hives and that way it keeps the same spacing between frames when I transfer to a full deep.
Title: Re: Deep Hivebodies to Use as Nucs
Post by: Two Bees on September 29, 2009, 11:31:29 am
So, it sounds like the design has been used before and works well with 4 frames on each side.

Do you think that with 5 frames on each side would it be too tight to allow the bees to get to syrup being fed through each inner cover?