Failing nuc - seller expectations?

watercarving · May 19, 2008, 03:24:02 PM

I got 2 5-frame nucs from a local dealer. One is doing great and the other has appeared to be failing. I did a full inspection yesterday and they are failing. No larva at all. Also noticed that really only about 3 frames were fully drawn out. I expected all 5 should be with a 5-frame nuc. He put the frames in my hives at his site so I didn't notice then. I don't think he was trying to cheat me but the bottom line is that I don't have a real 5-frame nuc.

Being my first year I'm not sure how to proceed. Should I expect him to replace the bees? I would be happy with a queen and package and I could go pick it up. I'm just not sure how this works in the bee world.

Thanks.

Kathyp · May 19, 2008, 03:34:22 PM

i don't know how long you have had them. a few things. 1st, it sounds like you have lost a queen. that happens. you can take a frame of eggs and young larvae from the other nuc and put it in the failing one. you can also swap the locations of the two nucs. when a hive loses a queen, sometimes the bees from that hive will drift to another. by swapping them, you will help get your number back up. also, call your supplier and ask about getting a new queen. often, if you have not had the hive long, they will replace. if not, they will sell you one if they have one.

i don't buy nucs, but i'm not sure why it would be important or even desirable to have all frames drawn out. if they were, it seems it would be time to switch to your full size hive body. maybe someone else can address that issue.

watercarving · May 19, 2008, 03:36:55 PM

We put the frames in a new hive with other empty frames. They aren't still in the nuc. I would expect 5 frames because that's what I paid for.

Worried there aren't enough bees left (probably only a pound) to make it even if I requeen. Not sure how many I need.

Kathyp · May 19, 2008, 03:57:27 PM

call the supplier.

watercarving · May 19, 2008, 04:02:30 PM

How many pounds would you normally need to keep going with a new queen?

Kathyp · May 19, 2008, 04:07:15 PM

i would say 3 to be on the safe side. you have another hive from which to rob brood and some workers. if it is strong and the queen laying well, you can boost numbers in the weak hive that way, and either make, or buy, a queen. also, swapping the locations of the hives will help. workers from the strong hive will return to the weaker hive. the combination of brood, more workers, and a queen, may save your hive.

again, if you have not had the nuc long, the supplier will probably replace your queen.

KONASDAD · May 19, 2008, 05:03:38 PM

I few club memers had similar situation w/ a retailer. They all called and the dealer will make good on the nucs he sold. He asked them to attempt to recover by using brood frame from other nuc. if in three weeks they didn't have a queen he would replace. i thought that was a good deal. they learned some new techniques and had a chance to experiment, while getting "insurance' from dealer. Call, be patient and carefully explain your postion. If he refuses to do anything, you'll know next time. Perhaps he can provide a queen, to insure you have enough bees.

Dane Bramage · May 19, 2008, 05:06:51 PM

Quote from: watercarving on May 19, 2008, 03:36:55 PM
We put the frames in a new hive with other empty frames. They aren't still in the nuc. I would expect 5 frames because that's what I paid for.

Worried there aren't enough bees left (probably only a pound) to make it even if I requeen. Not sure how many I need.

You should definitely expect 5 full frames... I forget the typical mix but it would be several of brood and a couple of stores, for example.

watercarving · May 19, 2008, 08:39:50 PM

He told me to move a frame over and see how it goes. Should be fine he said. If not, he has packages I can pick up one evening.