Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => General Beekeeping => Topic started by: Jen on April 27, 2018, 02:34:40 am

Title: Newspaper Combine Nuc On Top Of Hive
Post by: Jen on April 27, 2018, 02:34:40 am

I have a hive that could use some extra bees. Today, I split a 2 stack nuc that only had two frames of brood in it. The rest of the frames are nectar plugged. The split was moved away from the yard. Now I have this donor nuc that has tons of bees in it. I'm sure there is no queen or cups/cells. How do I do a newspaper split with the nuc on top of the hive?

Or, maybe I can just bang those nuc bees onto the lawn and let them beg their way into the hives? There are A Lot of bees tho....?

Title: Re: Newspaper Combine Nuc On Top Of Hive
Post by: Bakersdozen on April 27, 2018, 06:01:33 am

Good question, Jen.  I have a special board that allows me to set a 5 frame nuc on top of  a 10 frame.  It's looks similar to an inner cover, but there is an opening that fits a 5 frame nuc.  The tops of the other 5 frames in a 10 frame hive body are covered.  Before I got that, I would have moved the nuc into a 10 frame and did a newspaper combine.  I would put 5 extra frames in with the nuc frames so that there isn't empty space for the bees to try to fill.  I would normally put the weaker colony on top being sure to feed the top colony with 1:1 sugar syrup.
If the nuc is queenless, there shouldn't be any problems combining the two.  The logistics are awkward.  So, that being said, I would move frames to boxes that are the same and fit each other.  Put the weaker colony on top with a sheet of newspaper in between.  Cut 3 slits in the newspaper and use lots of smoke.  Feed the top and weaker colony. 

Title: Re: Newspaper Combine Nuc On Top Of Hive
Post by: tedh on April 27, 2018, 07:42:56 am

What Bakers said.  The "special board" she mentioned is called a "nuc introduction board".  Ted

Title: Re: Newspaper Combine Nuc On Top Of Hive
Post by: moebees on April 27, 2018, 03:10:24 pm

Actually you don't need a special board.  Just set the nuc on top flush on one side of the ten frame and put a board the right width and length to cover the the open space. 

Title: Re: Newspaper Combine Nuc On Top Of Hive
Post by: Jen on April 27, 2018, 06:47:53 pm

Hi Moebees, no newspaper?

Title: Re: Newspaper Combine Nuc On Top Of Hive
Post by: moebees on April 27, 2018, 08:41:52 pm

Sure you can use newspaper.  All I'm saying is that setting the nuc on top of the full size hive is no problem just lay a board over the extra space left over to form a lid so for the hive.  After a few days the nuc and hive will be combined and you can put a full size box on and move the nuc frames in.  No mess, no fuss, and no special equipment required.   :)

Title: Re: Newspaper Combine Nuc On Top Of Hive
Post by: Bakersdozen on April 27, 2018, 10:06:29 pm

Quote from: tedh on April 27, 2018, 07:42:56 am

What Bakers said.  The "special board" she mentioned is called a "nuc introduction board".  Ted

Thanks tedh.  I COULD NOT think of the actual name.