It took 13 years…

[Zweefer]

But I finally overwintered my first nuc! 


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[Bakersdozen]

 

What technique did it take 13 years to learn?  You don't get off that easy. 

[Jen]

Agreed Baker ... Give it up Zweefer!

[Zweefer]

Not really sure. I wrapped them same as any other year, made sure they had emergency feed.  Ran it three deep (mediums) just this year it took.  I don’t do anything different than I normally did in years past. And to be fair, I’ve only been trying to overwinter nuc’s for the last 3 or 4.


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[Jen]

Well Zweefer, Congrats Anyway! Sometimes you don't know how they made it, and sometimes ya don't what killed them.

[.30WCF]

Nice. Remind me what state?


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[Bakersdozen]

Nice. Remind me what state?


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Zweefer is in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.  Wikipedia says that the average temperature is only 46F.  Temperatures can drop down to -40F.

Zweefer, Congrats!  Sounds like you made sure there were adequate food stores and protection from the wind and severe cold temperatures.  My gut tells me that they had a low mite count going into winter as well.  We find that the majority of losses down here are due to uncontrolled mite counts.

[.30WCF]

Nice. Remind me what state?


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Zweefer is in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.  Wikipedia says that the average temperature is only 46F.  Temperatures can drop down to -40F.

Zweefer, Congrats!  Sounds like you made sure there were adequate food stores and protection from the wind and severe cold temperatures.  My gut tells me that they had a low mite count going into winter as well.  We find that the majority of losses down here are due to uncontrolled mite counts.

Sounds like I need to move there. I hate the hot summers.


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[Zweefer]

I’d welcome you with open arms!

[LazyBkpr]

Yeah what Bakers Said. I have the best luck with Nucs when I treat them in August and again in early November for mites, and do it exactly like Zweef did. Three deep with sugar on top.

[Zweefer]

You keep in nucs year round, correct @LazyBkpr ?
I usually keep one around as wax production or as a resource to use for the other hives. 

[LazyBkpr]

Yep, exactly. I like to try to keep three or four if possible, they are fantastic to snag resources from, be it a frame of eggs/larvae or just for putting was on new frames. They take a bit more work, you have to pay more attention to them, or they WILL get out of control and swarm in a short time. But if you LIKE tinkering with your bees, they give you that excuse!