Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

I want to see which size of nuc is the most popular. I know some beekeeper  are going to all medium hive.  While other beekeeper are using deep hive.

You mean frame size in nucs? It depends on the purpose of the nuc --- alot of folks design baby nucs just for mating queens.

I think by far the deep frames are most popular. Just because it was the traditional equipment that most seem to have in their area.I believe the medium is gaining popularity because of the ability to interchange all equipment for all uses.

Are the nucs for your use or do you plan on selling nucs----if selling what is the most popular frame size in your area.

Then there is number of frames in nuc --- most popular I believe is four or five but again many different arrangements available.

Yes,  sc-bee I was taking about the frame size.
I am going to build my own equipment

Try this http://www.beesource.com/plans/nuc.htm  or this http://www.beesource.com/plans/usda_nuc.htm  both are good plans

I like the 5 frame plans here!!! And it's a nice website.

http://www.honeyrunapiaries.com/beekeeping_plans.phtml

 You will find more 5 frame deeps nucs for sell not 5 frame medium's nucs. One 8 frame medium box is the same size is a 5 frame deep nuc. I use two 5 frame medium boxs for mine nucs.





         BEE HAPPY Jim 134  :)

I just built a 5 frame nuc for mediums.  I figure if they can fill five large frames up, then they should be in a full size hive and I like the idea of going to all mediums too.  The med. nuc is nice and light.  I could carry it full of bees and honey very easily.  I put a screen bottom in and cut a hole near the top on one side.  All I have to do is put a cork in to stop it up!!   I have nothing to put in the nuc, but everyone says to keep one handy, so there it is!!  I used beesource, but really just did it my own way.

Quote from: mtman1849 on August 30, 2008, 05:51:06 PM
Try this http://www.beesource.com/plans/nuc.htm  or this http://www.beesource.com/plans/usda_nuc.ht.  both are good plans

I have made them and they are cool -but the way i do it now is so much easier -take a box medium or deep -dosent matter and cut it in half and attach side board and you have serviceable five frame nuc -a child could do it-no dadeo blade to buy  8-) RDY-B

Quote from: ArmucheeBee on August 30, 2008, 10:09:41 PM
I just built a 5 frame nuc for mediums.  I figure if they can fill five large frames up, then they should be in a full size hive and I like the idea of going to all mediums too.  The med. nuc is nice and light.  I could carry it full of bees and honey very easily.  I put a screen bottom in and cut a hole near the top on one side.  All I have to do is put a cork in to stop it up!!   I have nothing to put in the nuc, but everyone says to keep one handy, so there it is!!  I used beesource, but really just did it my own way.

That's what I use, but recommend taking a 2nd medium nuc box when catching swarms, all too often a large swarm won't fit into just one medium nuc box.

       I do the same as on all swarm call take 3 or 4 medium 5 frames nuc boxs can hope for big can I
About 20% are 3 boxs 50% are 2 boxs 30% are 1 box and in a while it 4 boxs





                           BEE HAPPY Jim 134  :)

I was thinking about reduceing the width down abit making them 4 deep frame nuc's so 2 will fit over a 10 frame and try overwintering 2 small colinies screened over a healthy hive. Does this make any since to anyone

I actually have both, I think Brian mentioned if a swarm is bigger than just one deep you can add a medium 5-frame box.  This year I did splits in five frame deep nucs, but added two frames of honey with empty drawn comb remaining frames in a medium box above.  It is a little awkward using two sizes sometimes but it worked out well for me.

David 

I suppose you mean for selling as a nuc in the spring to start a hive with?  I sell some of both.  I sell more mediums than deeps but I have more mediums than deeps.

Purhaps I can slay the topic all together?

Why not build a medium nuc, but also a 'ring' that makes up the height distance between mediums and deeps?

And then you can BOTH? without the overhead of each type alone!

You can afix it with hive staples or water pipe strap or whatever else creative you want.
In fact, duct tape should get you by season to season.

That is what I did this year.  I am slowly moving toward all mediums, so I cut down hive boxes and nucs and then reassemble both sections.  If I need to switch back to a deep in a pinch, I just staple the extra three inches back on.

The three inch portions are also just the right size for winter dry sugar feeding.

Quote from: NWIN Beekeeper on September 05, 2008, 12:36:53 AM
Purhaps I can slay the topic all together?

Why not build a medium nuc, but also a 'ring' that makes up the height distance between mediums and deeps?

And then you can BOTH? without the overhead of each type alone!

You can afix it with hive staples or water pipe strap or whatever else creative you want.
In fact, duct tape should get you by season to season.

I've put a 5 frame nuc box over an 8 frame hive.  Bushy Mountain sells a spacer shim that is cut out in the center for just that purpose.  I made mine to fit 8 frame instead of the 10.   Looks a little weird having a nuc box on top of an super but you can over winter with it.  The bees actually cluster in the nuc and pull honey from the stores in the brood box...easier for them to maintain temps etc.

just like the 8 frame equipment it will be a matter of time when most suppliers will carry and sale 5 frame medium nuc's, just thing a nuc will sale for the same price and it doesn't take as many bee's to fill a medium nuc like it does a deep nuc ;) , I might be on some there  :-D :evil: , I might sale medium nuc's one day but they will cost the same as deeps, because making me use my honey frames for nuc's  :-P