I know Im starting with 4 packages. Maybe as much as 8 if things pan out.
easy way to check on mites. .
You see the mite level when you open drone combs. Make them 1/3 spaces in foundation that they can draw drone comps. You can take them of and you will catch about 50% from mites.
The 4 ordered packages arrive Apr 2. Now from what I can see the main flow starts around April 10 and on so I need to get them up and running quickly.
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Because bees get food from field, it is not necessary to feed them. If you have 1-2 weeks bad weather that they cannot go out, feeding accelarate larva nursing.
But at spring the temperature of hive is most important. Are your nucs 5 frames or what? - You can give them terrarium hearter 15 W and nuc will develope 3 times faster than naturally. (cold nights)
You can get normally honey during this summer. If you have 5 frames nuc, it takes 2 month that hive is able to catch honey. Dont give up that vision.
When you enlarge hives, put new deep under the brood box. If you have warmer, bees like to go to the lower box to make larvas. When hive has 1,5 boxes brood, it has good possibility to keep hive warm.
DONT FEED SYRUP it they get food from field. It only takes space from eggs and accelerate swarming.
In my case, we have none flowers in April when I start to give pollen and pollen substitute. Willow starts 1. of May. In my cottage area farmers have destroyed most of willows. I have just lack of food. I have too many hives in one place at spring.
Add the second deep when they draw around 70% of the first. Ive read that some people just put the 2 boxes on straight off but that didnt make sense to me. I want my fledgling forces concentrating on one area at a time. .
Add the second box when all frame gaps are full of bees. Put it down.
How much you get honey this summer? - It depends how much you have flowers at the distance of one mile and how much you have competitors or other bees to share your "honey mine".