>
>
>    Michael Palmer says he winters nucs on 4
>standard frames with only 20 pouds of stores, but apparently 2 per box which
>form a divided cluster of, presumably, 8 frames and 40 pounds of stores.
>The total stores seem light from what the literature says (60 - 80 pounds
>needed in North America) , and I am trying to understand why.


Yes, full sized colonies need 60 - 80 pounds of honey to make it through
our North American winters. While this is consumed over a 6 month period,
it is not consumed at a constant rate. After brood rearing ceases, the
amount of feed consumed drops dramatically...to maybe 10 pounds per month.
Once brood rearing starts again, consumption rate goes up again.
         10 pounds a month for a full sized colony of 20 to 30
combs...covered with bees.
Nucs, on the other hand only have 4 frames covered with bees. Way less
mouths to feed means way less honey consumed. Once brood rearing
starts...they don't raise much brood until pollen is available...the bees
really begin using up their feed.

         Does this make sense to you? Stop thinking in terms of full sized
colonies. And, don't believe everything the literature says. Think out of
the book. Wintering nucs on 4 combs with 20 pounds of feed does work...well.


>
>
>Can u winter 4 spare queens using a box with a star-shaped divider, so that
>4 mini-nucs can form one central cluster?


         Now yer thinkin', Robin. Yes, you can. Mine don't have a star
shaped divider though. Divide the brood box the narrow way (Langstroth box)
with a solid divider, The top of the divider should have a frame rest on
each side...matching the rests on the box. Standard frames are re-milled so
they fit into the 1/2 length space created by the divider. A half sized
division board feeder is constructed. This hangs in the space with the half
sized frames, dividing the space in half...4 combs on each side. So, each
box has two feeders, making 4 chambers with 4 full depth/half length
frames. The feeders can be left centered or moved to the sidewall, creating
a space for 8 frames if necessary.

         They will winter with only about 10 pounds of feed, as long as
they are packed with bees. If you need a queen in spring, remove one...move
the feeder to the side wall...remaining queen now is in an 8 frame mini-nuc.

Wishing the bee book authors would stop copying each other, and get on with
educating the beekeeping public.

Mike



>

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