Nucs and Hives
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
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
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.
Advantages
- Makes use of already existing colonies
Disadvantages
- High risk of disease transmission
Lesson List
- Bee Food Duration:
- .8 Check Your Learning Duration:
- 7. Sweeten the Deal Duration:
- 6. Be a Fair Weather Friend Duration:
- 5. Manage Swarming Duration:
- 4. Create a Local "Watering Hole" Duration:
- 3. Mean Bees Are Bad Bees Duration:
- 2. Happy Bees Are Good Bees Duration:
- 1. Fences or Hedges Make Good Neighbors Duration:
- 3.7 Bee a Good Neighbor! Duration:
- How to Deliver Food Duration:
- What to Feed Your Bees Duration:
- When to Feed Your Bees Duration:
- 3.2 What Kind of Bees Should I Get? Duration:
- 3.6 How to Feed Bees Duration:
- Approaching the Hive Duration:
- 3.5 Working with the Bees Duration:
- Regulations Impacting Beekeepers Duration:
- 3.4 Where to Put Hives Duration:
- Swarms Duration:
- Nucs and Hives Duration:
- How to Install Package Bees Duration:
- 3.3 Where to Get Your Bees Duration:
- Other Strains Duration:
- Carniolan Bees Duration:
- Italian Bees Duration:
Teachers Info
Bee doctor
- Website: http://www.example.com
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