>
>
>   So u have a situation
>that can be studied by physics -
>Robin Dartington.

Well, I don't think physics has much to do with it. I guess raising nucs
for over-wintering is as much of a time line as anything. Figuring out the
procedure can't be done from an armchair with a slide rule, and a physics
book. What is needed is a fundamental understanding of how bees live in
your own area...you in the UK, and me in northern Vermont.

         A good student of apiculture knows when brood rearing shutdown is
for their location. They   know how long it takes to raise a queen from an
egg, and how long it takes her to get laying...and then how long it takes
for her to change over the population of her new colony.

         So, instead of using physics to figure out if your bees are yet
crusty enough to survive the winter, draw up a time line instead.

         Start at brood rearing shutdown...October first say.
         Count back 6 weeks...the time needed to change over the
population...August 15th.
         Count back 14 days...the time needed for the cell to hatch, the
queen to get bred, and begin to lay...August 1st
         Count back 20 days...the time needed to raise the cell...July 12th.

So, the time line says the latest I want to make a nuc/cell is August
first. Best time from experience...July 15 - 31

Also, I think you are missing the point on the reason for making the nucs
at this time of year.

         Less is better. Less equipment, less bees, less feed. You don't
need 5 or six oversized frames...four standard will do just fine. Four on
one side of the divider, and four on the other. The nucs seem to make one
large 8 frame cluster, even with a division board feeder between them.

         And 60 to 80 lbs of feed? Sounds like you are trying to
over-winter a full sized colony. That's not the idea. Four frame nucs will
winter on 20 founds of feed or less.

Robin, I fully realize you are in the UK. Your flows are
different...therefore your beekeeping management is different. But, since
we were talking of wintering nucs in New Jersey, Alaska, and Vermont, that
is all I can address. I raise and over-winter 150 to 300 nucs  each
year...with good results. I too, at first, balked. I really couldn't
believe such a weak unit could survive the winter here in the north. My
friend tried for years to get me to try this plan, and was right when he
said I would kick myself when I realized how simple it was. Well...Kick,
kick, kick. I was able to give up my pollination contracts 'cause I didn't
need the money to buy replacement bees and queens. And my five year average
has gone up to 100 lbs, because I don't have to split my strong colonies in
the spring to replace dead-outs.

         So, what I am trying to say is...believe in the bees. Make the
nucs at the correct time, and the bees will take care of themselves. Even
if you can't see far enough ahead to know how this will change your
beekeeping forever...

                 Just do it!

Mike...with 250 wicked crusty nucs, cramming goldenrod into their combs as
fast as they can.

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