Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => General Beekeeping => Topic started by: Perry on January 11, 2014, 04:28:12 pm

Title: Checked the last 4 nucs.
Post by: Perry on January 11, 2014, 04:28:12 pm
Above normal temps today, and despite the rain I peeked at the last 4 of the 6 nucs I'm trying to get through winter. The first 2 I checked last week I knew were weak (none of them were strong) and sure enough, no surprise they were dead. Today I popped covers and all 4 remaining nucs are alive. The fondant was completely gone so I replenished them with enough patty that they should make it till spring (feed wise anyways). I'm actually a bit surprised.  :)
Title: Re: Checked the last 4 nucs.
Post by: Crofter on January 11, 2014, 04:59:13 pm
Having hives dud out that you thought were iffy doesn't sound all bad. If you can get 4 of 6 through that sounds like very good odds.

Title: Re: Checked the last 4 nucs.
Post by: tecumseh on January 11, 2014, 05:05:34 pm
well at least the story ended well!  :-\
Title: Re: Checked the last 4 nucs.
Post by: GLOCK on January 11, 2014, 06:52:04 pm
I have 2 I figured where to light to make it through winter and I put sugar on the tops and as of yesterday all my nucs are doing well(13) so I have my fingers crossed.
Hope your remaining 4 do well.

Good luck.
Title: Re: Checked the last 4 nucs.
Post by: Crofter on January 11, 2014, 07:09:03 pm
I pulled the entrance reducers and raked out dead bees today; oops! pulled out a few live ones too. I guess if they are down low yet it is a good sign.

I have one five over five nuc and one with 15 frames in a double deep with foam follwer / fillers.  The rest are double deep 10 frame hives.The way I have the boxes pulled together and a common insulated top, I cannot open them up to look in. I was a bit uneasy about tracheal mite possibility as lots of bees seemed to be in front of the hives in autumn. Hope it was normal die off of summer foragers.
Title: Re: Checked the last 4 nucs.
Post by: LazyBkpr on January 11, 2014, 07:18:29 pm
Not all bad news then, glad to hear it Perry.  Supposed to be 40 here tomorrow.. taking the stethoscope out to do some rounds and see what has survived so far.
Title: Re: Checked the last 4 nucs.
Post by: Perry on January 11, 2014, 08:52:26 pm
Fingers crossed everyone, but don't forget it's early days yet.