Making Summer Nuc s t Overwinter fr Spring Use Wrkshp Purpse: Hw t prduce summer nucleus clnies in preparatin fr verwintering them successfully. Wrkshp Gal: The gal f this wrkshp is t prvide knwledge n a) hw t create a nucleus clny, b) hw t manage the clny thrughut the summer, and c) hw t prepare the nuc fr verwintering. Overwintered nucleus clnies prvide a resurce fr nrthern beekeepers in the spring. These nucleus clnies can be used t help prvide beekeepers with early seasn queens, used t replace dead ut clnies, used t increase the number f clnies in yur apiary r prvide nuc s fr sale t beginner beekeepers. This wrkshp will discuss hw t create a nucleus clny thrugh the step by step prcess. We will review the bee resurces, queens and equipment requirements. Agenda: Splits and Nuc s Definitin Why Make Nuc s When t make Nuc s Equipment Needs Hw t make a Nuc Care f a Nuc Definitins A split is the prcess f separating tw hive bdies f a clny (where deep hive bdies are used); and prviding a queen fr the queenless prtin A nuc is a fully balanced clny in miniature cnsisting f tw t ten frames. We will lk t a standardized five frame nuc s fr the Queen and Nuc Initiative. An increase is simply adding t the number f clnies that yu have thrugh a split, swarm capture, nucs, packages, etc Bee bilgy: Hw it helps us make nucs Nurse bees/yung bees are nt aggressive and are lyal t the queen Nurse bees have a specific area n a brd frame that they tend t Yung nurse bees prefer nectar ver hney Bees have a natural tendency t swarm in the spring Queen cells can make excellent queens Wrkers frm different clnies d nt fight when mved int a new bx tgether. Yu may take nurse r wrker bees frm separate clnies and put them tgether in a new bx. Nurse bees added t a clny r nuc by shaking will adapt t their new cnditins. Why make nucs? T grw yur beekeeping business (mre hives). It is cheaper t build yur wn hives than it is t purchase packages r nucs Imprve/supplement prductin
The installatin f ver wintered nucs allws the beekeeper interested in prducing hney t maintain hney prductin because f their rapid grwth in the spring. Brd frm a nuc r nucs may be used t bst a clny just befre the hney flw starts, thus making a larger field frce t gather hney. It may then be split t make a secnd nuc. It can be used t make clean drawn cmb fr cmb replacement f full sized hives in yu cmb replacement prgram. As a management tl fr yur beekeeping peratin; T replace winter lsses T maintain extra queens in the event a queen fails r is lst. T assist in swarm preventin/cntrl. Making a nuc frm a ppulus hive in the spring will slw dwn the swarming urge. If yu remve the queen frm the mther hive and allw that hive t raise a queen r requeen that hive, yu will have prevented that clny frm swarming, and yu will have brken the brd cycle which in imprtant in mite cntrl. Fr Queen Rearing Queen rearing can be dne in nuc bxes. Full nuc bxes make excellent mating bxes and allw the beekeeper time t bserve the new queens temperament and perfrmance befre placing her in a full hive r selling her. Queen intrductin A prize queen is mre easily intrduced int a nuc clny with all nurse bees than it is int a full sized clny. T sell t a new beekeepers; r member f the club When t make splits & nucs Early spring Nuc s are dependant n queen availability. Generally need t imprt queens frm the suthern states r Nrthern Califrnia. Late spring/early summer (during flw) is the easiest time t start a nuc. Late summer/early fall fr verwintering Sme basic rules It is easiest t make nucs/splits during the middle f the day when mst f the field bees are ut f the hive Try t keep the nuc in prgress cvered; t much sunlight is detrimental t pen brd Use a minimum amunt f smke. Yu might want t have a spray bttle with light sugar water in it t help cntrl the bees if necessary All nucs shuld have reduced entrances Cnsideratins fr when t create a nuc. Queen availability and surces If making yur wn queens, time yur nuc t cincide with yur ready t emerge queen cells. Cnsider rdering lcal, hygienic queens r queen cells Equipment
Any sized equipment may be used. Can use the equipment that yu have n hand. bttm bard (IPM preferred), hive bdy inner cver telescping cver entrance reducer, a bee brush, frames f fundatin r drawn cmb, and a feeder that fits the equipment being used. May want t invest in several 5-frame nuc bxes and the necessary bttm bards, inner cvers, telescping cvers, and feeders, etc Hw t make nucs Methd 1 nt necessary t find the queen Methd 2 Lcate the queen r ensure she is nt being mved Take t the bee yard yur nuc(s), tls, frames f fundatin and/r drawn cmb, plus an extra hive bdy, bee brush, queen excluder & sugar water in a spray bttle Frm the mther hive, select a) 1 frame f hney r nectar, b) 1 frame f primarily pllen, c) 1 frame f drawn cmb, d) tw frames f brd. (frames with mixed pen and sealed brd are fine) and e) tw frames f uncapped brd; As yu remve the 5 frames fr the nuc ne by ne, lk fr the queen. Here the methds differ. Under Methd 1: shake and/r brush ff all the bees back int the mther hive. Place each bee free frame int the extra hive bdy (full sized hive bdy) Place the queen excluder n the mther hive. Pick up the newly made nuc(s) and place n tp f the hive. Cme back in a cuple f hurs r the next day and the nuc is full f nurse bees. This way yu d nt have t find the queen. Remve the nuc frm the tp f the mther hive and place it n it s bttm bard. Screen t mve t an ut-yard r set in yur hme yard., OR, Transfer the 5 frames f hney/nectar, lder brd, drawn cmb/fundatin, & pllen t yur nuc bdy, Under Methd 2: Remve frames ensuring the queen is nt n any f the frames. Place each frame with bees int the nuc. Screen t mve t an ut-yard r set in yur hme yard. Brush bees frm tw r three pen brd frames int the nuc bdy, and put thse frames back in the mther clny Nte: yur nuc can be left right where it is in yur apiary Reassemble the mther hive placing the frames f fundatin t the utside f the brd chamber. Once set up, a queen r queen cell may be intrduced immediately r within 24 hurs.
Place a feeder n the nuc. Keep feeding the nuc until it is able t fend fr itself. Check in 5-7 days t make sure queen was released r the queen cell hatched. Check in anther 5-7 days t check whether the released queen is laying eggs. Or, check t see if the newly hatched queen has returned frm her mating flight. Anther ptin if yu have an ut-yard at least three miles away t keep the field bees frm vacating the newly established nuc yu can fllw the fllwing steps: G t the bee yard with yur tls, nuc(s), hive bdy with bttm and tp t place the frame with the queen int, frames f fundatin and/r drawn cmb, bee brush, strap, & sugar water in a spray bttle. Screen in yur nuc and nuc safe huse Frm the mther hive, find a) the frame that the queen is n, b) ne frame f hney r nectar, c) ne frame f primarily pllen, d) ne frame f drawn cmb, and tw frames f brd. (frames with bth pen and sealed are fine). Place brd in the center f the nuc bx, and surrund with the frames f hney and pllen. If yu are using full size equipment, yu can fill the rest f the bx with frames f fundatin. G back int yur mther hive and select 2-3 frames f pen brd. Shake all f the bees frm these frames int yur nuc, lightly spraying the bees with sugar water t keep them frm flying. (Yu are adding extra bees t the nuc t ensure enugh bees t keep the brd warm and fed.) Replace the frames minus cvering bees back in the mther hive. Mve the remaining frames f brd in the mther hive tgether. Back-fill with frames f fundatin n the utside f the brd cluster nt in the middle f the brd cluster. Clse up yur nuc. It can be mved t yur ut-yard r anther lcatin at this time. Wait 24 hurs befre intrducing the queen r queen cell. Place a feeder n the nuc and keep fed with 1:1 sugar water until they are able t fend fr themselves. Wait 7-15 days; check fr eggs & new brd Care f a Nuc They have all f needs and requirements f a full sized clny, such as pest and disease cntrl Nucs different than full-sized clnies in: Size Bee ppulatin, Nuc has nly 10-25% f the ppulatin f a full sized clny Ease f frame manipulatin Less difficult t lcate queen All nucs need: Clny difficulties are cncentrated They develp mre rapidly and need t be managed mre intensely Need t remve frames f capped hney t prvide rm, add a secnd bx with frames, r stre fr use later Can remve frames f drawn wax t stre and use at a later date Can prvide brd t bst weaker clnies -Can be maintained t prduce cut cmb and hney fr use and extractin, Frames f hney, drawn cmb, etc. can and shuld be harvested individually.
A reduced entrance t assist in the defense f the hive. A methd f feeding Nucs fr verwintering have sme special needs will discuss later Differences in Nuc Creatin based n Time f Year: Spring nuc management Usually made during nectar flw Recmmend 2, nt 3 frames f brd (sme call this a weak nuc). Strng (3 frames f brd) nucs may swarm. Spring nucs ideal fr students, new beekeepers as this is a great way t watch hive develpment frm the start Will nt usually prduce excess hney the first year Add 2nd bx (fundatin is OK) as sn as ppulatin warrants (resurce bx) If nt sld, given away, r nt needed in yur wn peratin, can be verwintered. Reminder that spring nucs present pprtunity fr replacing ld cmb SPRING, EARLY SUMMER NUCS. It is usually dne during a nectar flw. It is recmmended that they be made small (tw frames f brd) t slw dwn develpment. If yu make a strng nuc, be prepared t install it in a full hive in the near future. Can be used t cllect hney if put int full equipment with drawn cmb. Add a secnd bx with fundatin as needed. Since usually made after the flw, mther clny shuld be fed 1:1 a week prir t splitting Nuc shuld be made with 3 full frames f lder larvae and sealed brd. N eggs r yung larvae!. Feed the new nuc 1:1 t simulate nectar flw. Queen mre easily intrduced. Queen intrductin must be handled with cautin (The frames shuld be inspected fr queen cells bth befre and after queen intrductin) Once queen is accepted and laying, yu can add the 2nd bx. NOTE: Break in brd cycle in a summer nuc assists in managing mites. Over wintering nuc management, What yu re lking fr ging int winter Overwintering initial setup; 1st bx (A) In ur area, July 15 thru August 15 is best time t establish nucs fr verwintering. Start with ne bx Add 2nd bx as sn as ppulatin warrants. All 5 frames in 2 nd bx wuld be drawn cmb. A gd ppulatin can draw ut fundatin in late summer/fall Need t feed 1:1 early, 2:1 later. Ging Int winter, cluster will nrmally be lcated n middle three frames. On warm days, bees shuld basically cver all 5 tp bars n the lwer bx. Ging int Winter all frames f the tp bx shuld be capped hney Sme may be actual hney: thers may be sugar hney frm yur feedings.
Watch winter stres! feed bee candy/fndant as needed (use shim r extra hive bdy). Winter prtectin Nuc entrances shuld face dwnwind in the winter; frtunately, ur winter winds are mstly frm the N r NW Prtectin frm strng winter winds is necessary.