Sawdust, Jim {Van,
Why do you want to open this Nuc? Does the front entrance indicate a problem?}
I need to feed syrup to this nuc. The nuc was created from a small late swarm, end of July. I don?t want swarms, however this swarm was doomed without my intervention as the dearth was on. I couldn?t stand to let the bees die. So I will build up the nuc and requeen next spring. The nuc as of August 30th has 5 full frames of bees, good stores by heft test.
I did feed this nuc last Fridays morning, a cool morning with no bees flying so I decided to chance it. So far, no robbing, 3 days later. I slid the lid just enough to add syrup to an in frame feeder on what is now a double deep 5 frame. No inspection, no pulling frames. I am hoping the bees will wax out the upper deep.
I do need to make adjustments to some of my big hives that are 3 deeps. I prefer to winter 2 deeps per hive as my winter configuration. So, in the near future, I will open up some big hives and try to reduce from 3 deeps to 2 deeps.
This has been an unusual year, 2018: most of my hives became Honey bound, filling brood comb with Honey and in some cases ignoring my supers. I even placed one super between the deeps and the bees stilled ignored the super.
Continuing with an unusual year, fifty percent of my queens failed to return from mating flights. That is half of my queens, thing about that!!! Catbirds living in my front yard, Tanangers living in my back yard where the hives are located.
Continuing with the unusual year. In EARLY August my drones were kicked out of the hives. Normal is September for drone eviction. I would say, about 6 weeks early for drone riddance. I?m guesding due to hives full of honey and all is well so the little ladies got rid of the boys early.
Continuing with the unusual year. I saw no chalkbrood, no nosema, and not a single bee with dwarf wing virus. These are all good things not to see, however with 20 hives, I would expect an issue, but I am pleased there were none of the above.
Continuing,,,, hive beetles were very low in number this year. Where did they all go???? Normally hive beetles are a major concern in this area, North Arkansas and I employ a lot of time ridding the beetles.
Ok, I will count my Blessings, to date 2018 has been a very good year for the honey bees with the exception of mated queens.
Blessings