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BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Moots on February 07, 2013, 09:47:01 pm

Title: Moving from Nucs....A few questions!
Post by: Moots on February 07, 2013, 09:47:01 pm
Ok...
Started with my two Nucs almost 4 weeks ago...Everything seems to be going really well and all indications are we may be in for an early spring here is South Louisiana.

I've decided it's time to move the girls out of their 6 frame Nucs and into my 8 frame hive boxes, I plan on doing this tomorrow or Saturday, since they look like the best weather options in the current 10 day forecast.  As a newbie, I have a game plan, but of course, it's filled with much doubt and no experience.   :) 

Therefore, I wanted to throw it out and get some opinions:

Friday's forecast is a high of 70°/ Low of 47°, 20% chance of rain.  Saturday is 66°/57° 10%.  I'm assuming either of those are OK, I prefer tomorrow because it gives me Saturday as a fall back day in case tomorrow's forecast is off.

I have made ventilated inner covers, like these from Honey Run Apiaries
(http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s664/jeffrobert41183/Bees/4seasoninnercover_zps7a689a3d.jpg)

Do I keep the top entrance blocked off for now or not?  If so, how long?  It's a two inch entrance.

Currently my Nucs have a 2" entrance, I have entrance reducers with 2" or 4" opening...which should I use for now?  When do I increase and/or remove it?

Also, currently...I'm doing open feeding about 15' in front of the two Nucs.  I plan on switching to feeding via the inner cover, protected by an empty hive box and top cover.  Can I pull the open feeder immediately, or should I leave it also for a while?

I also plan on having the insulation in place blocking the vents of the inner cover until I'm sure we're done with the cold snaps, although I'm not sure if that's necessary or not here in Louisiana.

Also, for whatever it's worth, I'm waffling between screen or solid bottom boards, therefore I"m going with one screened with a pan for oil and one solid.

Any and all input and opinions appreciated.  :)
Title: Re: Moving from Nucs....A few questions!
Post by: Vance G on February 07, 2013, 09:59:54 pm
My advice is to save all that ventilation for when it hits 100F.  I would continue with a 2" entrance and let them hold that heat in so they can keep lots and lots of brood warm.  Duct tape seals things up temporarily pretty well.  The move is pretty straight forward.  Just set everything you need, have the smoker billowing cool smoke and git er done.
Title: Re: Moving from Nucs....A few questions!
Post by: dirt road on February 08, 2013, 12:18:05 am
Don't know if you have anything blooming down there in the tropics, but I wouldn't want an open feeder 15 feet from any hive or nuc, ever. If you have some things blooming it probably won't be a big deal, but if not, and you have lured in a bunch of neighborhood bees it could cause a little commotion when you shut it off.
Title: Re: Moving from Nucs....A few questions!
Post by: gov1623 on February 08, 2013, 03:27:23 am
Im not too far from you moots. As far as moving your nucs to your 8 frame hive, do it as soon as you can. This weekend will be ok. Spring is here and my hives are starting to get real strong. The blackberrys are all ready starting to bloom so they will need more room. I personally would rather feed my hives via the inner cover. I would leave the entrance reducer on until they get a little stronger. Don't worry about insulating your vents here in Louisiana.   
Title: Re: Moving from Nucs....A few questions!
Post by: bailey on February 08, 2013, 10:05:24 am
Your plan sounds good.  Keep entry smaller for now.
Have fun. This weekend will be great!
Title: Re: Moving from Nucs....A few questions!
Post by: 10framer on February 08, 2013, 10:11:49 am
Don't know if you have anything blooming down there in the tropics, but I wouldn't want an open feeder 15 feet from any hive or nuc, ever. If you have some things blooming it probably won't be a big deal, but if not, and you have lured in a bunch of neighborhood bees it could cause a little commotion when you shut it off.

i agree.  open feeding in the beeyard is an invitation to robbing.  i don't like entrance feeders for the same reason.  we used to use division board feeders but the internal top feeder seems like a good design to me as long as all that internal moisture doesn't form a mini atmosphere and make it rain on the bees.
Title: Re: Moving from Nucs....A few questions!
Post by: Moots on February 08, 2013, 07:42:35 pm
Follow up....

Got the girls moved into the new condo's today.   :)

(http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s664/jeffrobert41183/B9265A87-CF64-47CD-A26B-9E2596B383A0-591-00000037242C2C49_zps1a64d4ec.jpg)

All went well! 

Basically, uneventful...BUT FUN!  :-D

Thanks to everyone for all the input and advice.
Title: Re: Moving from Nucs....A few questions!
Post by: bailey on February 08, 2013, 08:21:00 pm
Aren't you glad you did it today!  :-D
Moots is going to be here tomorrow as slave lab.... Uhhh .... Err.     As mentee.  :evil:
Bailey
 :lau: :lau: :lau: :lau:
Title: Re: Moving from Nucs....A few questions!
Post by: Moots on February 08, 2013, 08:31:01 pm
Aren't you glad you did it today!  :-D
Moots is going to be here tomorrow as slave lab.... Err.     As mentee.  :evil:
Bailey
 :lau: :lau: :lau: :lau:

Bailey, LOL!  Funny you should say that...that was my first thought when you sent me the text!  I thought, thank God I didn't wait to move my bees, that would have jammed me up!

I love it when things work out...Looking forward to tomorrow....  :)
Title: Re: Moving from Nucs....A few questions!
Post by: bailey on February 08, 2013, 08:37:02 pm
Me too.  You driving a truck?   We're going where cars shouldn't try.
Bailey
Title: Re: Moving from Nucs....A few questions!
Post by: Moots on February 08, 2013, 08:40:07 pm
Me too.  You driving a truck?   We're going where cars shouldn't try.
Bailey


Ah....NO!  Can I hitch a ride?
Title: Re: Moving from Nucs....A few questions!
Post by: bailey on February 08, 2013, 09:19:22 pm
Sure can
Will have to shovel out a place for you but it will work.  :-D
Title: Re: Moving from Nucs....A few questions!
Post by: Moots on February 11, 2013, 10:18:06 pm
Update since the big move!

Everything went fine and has looked good since the move, just one thing has me a little baffled!  

I moved both Nucs to their hive boxes Friday afternoon, at that time I added a quart of 1:1 Syrup atop the inner cover of each.  I had about a half of quart on the open feeder, so I left it in place.  By Sunday night the open feeder was just about empty, so I went ahead and pulled it.

The video was shot Sunday evening, both hives were quite active and had orientation flights happening.  The hive in the foreground is the one that has me scratching my head.  While the hive in the background, Alpha hive, has taken a full quart of syrup, Bravo hive's syrup is basically untouched??? It "may" have gone down a little bit, but practically unnoticeable.

Video - Yesterday Afternoon (http://s1311.beta.photobucket.com/user/jeffrobert41183/media/Bees/5BCAF890-A8CC-457E-A1D5-3BE5C24301DD-666-0000004E29881727_zps6758604d.mp4.html)
Title: Re: Moving from Nucs....A few questions!
Post by: Moots on February 12, 2013, 10:18:35 pm
Update since the big move!

Everything went fine and has looked good since the move, just one thing has me a little baffled!  

I moved both Nucs to their hive boxes Friday afternoon, at that time I added a quart of 1:1 Syrup atop the inner cover of each.  I had about a half of quart on the open feeder, so I left it in place.  By Sunday night the open feeder was just about empty, so I went ahead and pulled it.

The video was shot Sunday evening, both hives were quite active and had orientation flights happening.  The hive in the foreground is the one that has me scratching my head.  While the hive in the background, Alpha hive, has taken a full quart of syrup, Bravo hive's syrup is basically untouched??? It "may" have gone down a little bit, but practically unnoticeable.

Video - Yesterday Afternoon (http://s1311.beta.photobucket.com/user/jeffrobert41183/media/Bees/5BCAF890-A8CC-457E-A1D5-3BE5C24301DD-666-0000004E29881727_zps6758604d.mp4.html)

OK,
Update to the update.... :)

I'm still baffled!

Alpha hive has now sucked down 2 quarts of Sugar water from their internal feeder since the move.  Bravo hive has "maybe" dropped the level of their internal quart jar feeder 1/2 inch....MAYBE!  To further confuse the issue, I would have thought that Bravo was the more populated and stronger of the two.

I guess this is part of the advantage of starting with multiple hives so you can compare and contrast.  Although, I have no idea what this difference is really telling me.    :(

In all other ways both hives still look like they are progressing nice and I see nothing that would give me cause to worry.  Just trying to understand the gals!  :-D

Title: Re: Moving from Nucs....A few questions!
Post by: bailey on February 13, 2013, 01:43:39 am
Your still trying to understand girls?   
Easier to describe the shape of fire ! :evil:
Bailey
Title: Re: Moving from Nucs....A few questions!
Post by: Moots on February 13, 2013, 08:44:06 am
Your still trying to understand girls?   
Easier to describe the shape of fire ! :evil:
Bailey

LMAO!  :) SO, SO....SO True.

Any chance you're going to get to take a peek today at the 5 Nucs we made to see if they're progressing along? Let me know how they're looking....I'm rooting for them!  :-D
Title: Re: Moving from Nucs....A few questions!
Post by: PLAN-B on February 13, 2013, 01:31:20 pm
understanding girls? Not touching that one with a ten foot stick