BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER > REQUEENING & RAISING NEW QUEENS
Mini mini foam nucs
Ben Framed:
I mentioned a couple advantages to the use of 2 framers as opposed to the report you issued of you small foam mini's. One disadvantage of the 2F that I use, and the reason I rarely use them, is a lack of a feeding portal in times of dearth. The top is simply to narrow for adding a jar sized hole on top. (my favorite way of feeding a 5 frame nuc if needed.) I suppose I could rethink the situation and add a smaller hole along with a smaller bottle, perhaps a small gatorade bottle in times of no flow along with a short supply of framed feed honey? The guy in Georgia does a lot of open feeding. I would like to hear your thoughts on this.
Ben Framed:
Mr HP, I have now found a topic where you described using multi queens for rapid growth. A very good topic and discussion. In fact I see where I commented on this idea of multi queens. Looking back I see that you later described your use of 2F mating nuc in this very same topic. Good stuff! Thank as always.
Michael Bush:
If I inherited those, I'd find someone who wants to buy them...
http://bushfarms.com/beesqueenrearing.htm#matingnucs
Ben Framed:
--- Quote ---One disadvantage of the 2F that I use, and the reason I rarely use them, is a lack of a feeding portal in times of dearth. The top is simply to narrow for adding a jar sized hole on top. (my favorite way of feeding a 5 frame nuc if needed.)
--- End quote ---
I am reporting I overcame the feeding portal problem today (if in times of need) . Here is what I did. I measured the top of an empty, small gatorade bottle with a caliper. It measured 34.64mm. Using a 1 3/8" Bosch Forstner bit, I drilled this size hole in the top of one of the 2F tops. This bit left a smooth clean even hole. The gatorade top fit perfectly into the hole with the rim of the cap used as a stop, not allowing the top to simply slide all the way through which is just what the doctor ordered! I made the feed holes modeling from an old Man Lake jar feeder top by experimenting with different sizes of small drill bits until I found one that fit the feed holes of the bought tops perfectly. .6mm I am thinking. (You would do well to check this for yourself as my bits got mixed together). I drilled 4 of these mi-nute holes in each top. Then removed the clear plastic top cap liner which is inside of each of these tops. These drilled holes left a good clean feed hole. I could not use a hand drill for this purpose. I had to use the drill press because the chuck on the hand held dewalt would not chuck up on the very small bit, just too loose. It took the precision closing jaws of the drill press to get the job done. Problem solved.. Maybe this experience will be of help to some of you.
Adding: I could have easily drilled several more holes in the caps if I had thought they were necessary. If I find more cap holes are necessary, I will add more.
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TheHoneyPump:
I have never been concerned about feeding a 2F mating nuc. When the nuc is built, they have lots available. They get 1 frame with a palm sized patch of brood that is also loaded with resources, along with the adhering bees. The 2nd frame is foundation. Thats it. By the time the ripe cell is emerged, mated, and she has laid up most of the original brood frame, they have usually drawn out most of the foundation frame. At that pint you pull her and drop another cell, or move them into a 5F nuc box with bees/brood boost and grow from there on.
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