Nucs and Hives

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Nucs and Hives

Besides package bees, there are other options for purchasing bees for your new beekeeping endeavor:

  • Buy a "nuc" with nuc box and bees
  • Buy an established hive with a colony
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Nucs

One option that offers a bit of a production advantage over package bees is called a "nuc." Nuc is beekeeper speak for a nucleus colony, which is a small honey bee colony created from a larger one. The nuc includes a nuc box with 3-4 frames of workers (tending to brood in various stages of development), a frame or two of honey, pollen, and a laying queen.

When placed in a full-sized hive at the right time of year, nucs can expand rapidly. The disadvantages of using nucs are that they are usually more expensive than package bees and that they pose a higher risk of disease transmission because brood combs are involved.

You will learn more about producing your own nucs in Section 4.3: Spring Splits.

Advantages
  • Can expand rapidly
Disadvantages
  • More expensive than packages
  • Higher risk of disease
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Used Hives

You can also consider buying an established colony and the hive in which it is living. This option might be great if someone has made a decision to stop keeping bees but still has some thriving colonies in good quality equipment, or has to move and doesn't want to deal with transporting hives.

It is difficult to determine the true market value and quality of used equipment and bees.

Because brood combs are involved, there is a greater potential for transmission of disease. One must always wonder why the seller is selling these hives. Some diseases like American foulbrood can be difficult to detect, especially if the seller has used antibiotics. Spores hidden in the equipment can not only destroy the colony that has just been bought, but they can quickly spread to other colonies you might have or to your neighbors colonies. For these reasons, buying established colonies is not recommended for beginner beekeepers.
Advantages
  • Makes use of already existing colonies

 

Disadvantages
  • High risk of disease transmission

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