4 frame double nuc

[Papakeith]

I'm planning on trying to overwinter some nucs.  I was watching Michael Palmer and really liked his 4 frame nuc hives over a divided deep base.  Pretty simple really  take the basic hive body measurements and cut the fronts in half and add more wood lengthwise.  Here's how mine made out.











A few more and I'll be ready for winter.

[riverbee]

very cool pk.........
do you have a scribbly drawing of a plan for these?....

[Papakeith]

[brooksbeefarm]

Are you going to put another one on top for stores? or going through winter with just four frames in each? Jack

[riverbee]

thanks pk for the excellent plan !!!! downloaded!

like jack, my question too?
"Are you going to put another one on top for stores? or going through winter with just four frames in each?"

[Papakeith]

Are you going to put another one on top for stores? or going through winter with just four frames in each? Jack
[/quote
Nope those boxes will sit on top of a full deep with a divider and separate entrances

something like this:
http://www.betterbee.com/Products/Nuc-Boxes-and-Components/Divided-Deep-Super-for-Double-Nuc

[robo]

Nice job...

Did you consider the division board feeder divider that Michael Palmer uses?  I like that method better as it uses standard 10 frame hive bodies.  I find less unique equipment always works better for me.  It also allows for easier feeding to get them up to the 3-1/2 frames of honey/syrup that Michael shoots for.

I use something similar with 10 frame polystyrene hives,  but can get 5 frames in each nuc.
http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/portable-double-nucs/

[Papakeith]

Did you consider the division board feeder divider that Michael Palmer uses?

No I didn't. but I'll look into it.  While I like making different items.  Having one type box to make instead of three wouldn't be a bad thing. 

[robo]

Here is one of Michael's boxes.   It is basically a feeder that has a divider down the middle and each nuc has access to only one side.  He said he use to have to clean comb out of them from some hives but then realized that it acts as a ladder to prevent drowning,  so now he just leaves the comb.  Just cover with a cloth to keep the bees in their side. I like this because it uses a standard box and you can feed them easily.   If you want to grow the nuc in this configuration,  then you can add one of your 4 frame nuc boxes on top.

[LazyBkpr]

I built two of those 4/8 frame nuc's to try;

   


   I am still somewhat preferential to the 5 frame double nucs;
   


   That makes it easier to divide them into these, or make them up from these..
   


   We will see how they winter in comparison. working on filling all of those nuc's   

[brooksbeefarm]

Our flow is about over so i'm thinking about making up 15 to 20 nucs to take through the W to sell next spring. I make up my queens from frames of eggs in five frame nucs deeps and med.. When  they get going i will have double deeps and for the med. there will be 3 med boxes. I have never sold nucs, but we have so many new club members wanting nucs, and older members who loose there hives over W that want bees and beg me and others to sell nucs. This may be a one time deal for me, but we will see. Jack

[apisbees]

You bring up a very good point of the increase in demand for nucs for the new beekeeper. And with the traditional suppliers not being reliable at meeting this demand and supplying a good product. They have left a need in the marker place that can and is being filled by hobby beekeepers. You are doing good.

[LazyBkpr]

You bring up a very good point of the increase in demand for nucs for the new beekeeper. And with the traditional suppliers not being reliable at meeting this demand and supplying a good product. They have left a need in the marker place that can and is being filled by hobby beekeepers. You are doing good.

   

[Papakeith]

This is something that I am seeing locally as well.  Lots of new beekeeper's with packages that didn't make it or just want to start with a nucleus colony.  There always seems to be a demand for nucs and queens. 
I'm doing a small scale test this winter with three four frame double story double nuc colonies.

Got the bits finished this week. 

Next year I may work on building some of those feeders to divide the colonies from one another.

[terricksa]

I am building one of these this winter and hopefully plan to get 2 going to get thru the winter.  My one question i have yet to find a definitive answer to is.....
From the "weak" hive you use to create these 4 frame nucs, in my case hopefully 2.  Do you keep the "weak" hive going and hope it makes it thru the winter as well?  I know you do this in june/july so there is plenty of time for them to get enough stores for the winter but I just wasn't positive.



Thanks

[Perry]

Hey terricksa!
I see this was your first post to the forum! 
Glad you found us and hope you set your feet up here. This is a friendly lot, though some of us are already getting a little shack-whacky not being able to work the bees. Ask questions when you have them, help answer any if you're comfortable doing so.

[LazyBkpr]

  My one question i have yet to find a definitive answer to is.....
From the "weak" hive you use to create these 4 frame nucs, in my case hopefully 2.  Do you keep the "weak" hive going and hope it makes it thru the winter as well?  I know you do this in june/july so there is plenty of time for them to get enough stores for the winter but I just wasn't positive.

Thanks

   It entirely depends on what you WANT..  if you split down a weak hive, how much brood/bees and drawn comb do they have? If they have enough, and you want to make 4 hives from it, then get yourself 4 queens. In your case, three queens. One for each nuc and one for the original hive..  It is weak for a reason, unless you are sure about what the reason is then a new queen there is in order as well.
   I didnt go back and re read so hope I did not miss the point?