In message <00e701c3719d$2ef94c80$6578bc3e@oemcomputer>, Christine Gray
<[log in to unmask]> writes
>So if I was experimenting, I
>would start with 5 or 6 frame nucs on very tall combs (Eastern Europeans
>have used combs 12 inches wide by 14 inches deep), after calculaing how much
>fuel the nuc is going to need and checking that the 60-80 pounds needed can
>be accomodated above the early winter cluster.
My best performing hives have 14"sq frames. A 11 frame box often goes
into the winter with more than 90lb honey and pollen and surges in the
spring and *can* give a good 50lb surplus on the spring flow. A 6-frame
nuc might hold 40lb if I was lucky but it is not necessary, less stores
and more bees is better. But they do well on their own, isolated from
other hives. They are a bit heavy to stack on top of a full sized colony
for warmth.
--
James Kilty

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