Populating your hive
-Warre hives are most easily populated with packaged bees. Packaged bees are artificial swarms that are used to establish new colonies or replace winter losses. These are shipped in containers along with nutrients that sustain them through the shipping process and can be placed in any type of hive. It is important to note that not all breeders offer packages.
-Alternatively, Warre hives can also be populated with commonly available Langstroth Nucs as we will explain (see more below).
-The following link share a few different ideas on the subject:
http://www.warre.biobees.com/hiving.htm
-Alternatively, Warre hives can also be populated with commonly available Langstroth Nucs as we will explain (see more below).
-The following link share a few different ideas on the subject:
http://www.warre.biobees.com/hiving.htm
View from our green roof
The Nuc adapter method:
The most cost effective method of doing this is to use an adapter board. This is simply a piece of plywood the length of a nuc and the width of a warre with a rectangular hole in the middle. You then cut out the majority of the bottom of the nuc, leaving 2.5" at the front and back and 1" at the sides. The hole in the adapter board should match this. You then temporarily remove the warre roof and place the nuc and adapter board on top of the top box. The bees will eventually make there way down into the warre box and you can remove the nuc later in the season.
Tips:
1. Seal the entrance on the nuc. If you do not do this then the bees will be less likely to move down into the warre box.
2. Cut a window in the front of the box and put a piece of screen over it for ventilation to prevent overheating.
3. If you have the option, opt for the white plastic "corruplast" nuc box from your breeder as they will not degrade from rain. If this is not an option and you have to use a cardboard nuc, you should then place a piece of wood over the nuc to protect it from the rain.
Options:
In order to accelerate their transition to the warre hive box, another thing that can be done is to use a queen excluder between the Nuc and the warre. When doing this, you would shake/brush the bees off frames and into the warre box. Once the majority of bees are out of the nuc, seal it up and put it on top of the warre with the queen excluder between. This works better if you can put the queen in a cage in the warre, but if you don't have one, just make sure the queen is in fact in the warre. Once the remaining brood in the nuc has hatched, the nuc can be removed. You may need to feed them for a bit until some stores are built up in the warre.
Picture of Sealed entrance and screened vent. Note bees by the warre entrance.
Picture of Open Nuc entrance. Note lack of bees at warre entrance. Bees are not moving into warre box.
The Deluxe Nuc to Warre conversion box:
For those who want a better solution, we are now offering a nuc to warre adapter box. Our deluxe Nuc to Warre adapter or conversion box is the best way to populate a Warre hive with a standard Nuc. The main advantage of this unit over simply placing the nuc on top of the hive is that this can be left on over winter if the bees do not have a great first season and do not build up enough stores in the Warre boxes. A cardboard or corruplast nuc box will not overwinter very well without some serious attention to insulation and ventilation. We decided to start with a deluxe Langstroth nuc box vs. the standard style which just has a board for a cover. Ours comes with an inner cover and telescoping lid so it will function as any standard Langstroth hive. Click on the picture below for more details.
