Obtaining Nucs

[Terri Yaki]

OK, so this seller is selling a different product than the other one with the over-wintered nucs?

[Terri Yaki]

After reviewing the correspondence back and forth, I think it's a matter of semantics. She definitely identified them as over-wintered nucs. But I'll be sure to get the deets. One thing that seems to make a difference in the price is the cheaper one has a $50 deposit on the nuc box and the other makes no reference to getting it back.

[yes2matt]

OK, so this seller is selling a different product than the other one with the over-wintered nucs?

The seller whose correspondence you shared is assuming you know where bees come from. She is offering three products: package bees that she is likely wholesale/reselling; nucs that are products of "splits" that she is making in spring when drones are flying; one nuc "not yet spoken for" that is currently being overwintered from this past summer. She is asking would you like to speak for or put a deposit on that last overwintered nuc. Or would you prefer to wait for spring splits, or order package bees.  From my perspective, if I was to be presented these options only, I would jump on that last overwintered nuc and be prepared to drop a $50 deposit on it.

If I could predict, you will receive your nuc in either a waxed-cardboard nuc box or one of the new plastic boxes with a yellow top. In either case you'll want to get your bees moved out of it into wood or poly equipment very soon, and you'll want to keep the box for when you make your first split, or as a spare/emergency swarm box.

EDIT: sorry I didn't read your next post carefully.  In general, you're going to want to have a nuc box (several eventually).  But you can get one for less than $50 certainly. So if you are being careful with your money, return the box and get your fifty back, then buy two for fifty at your favorite supplier. Then stack them together in hive with a little swipe of lemongrass oil on the inside and some blank frames in the top box, put it somewhere near a landmark, facing south, preferably sunny, and getcha another colony of bees  :)

[Terri Yaki]

I called this seller and it turns out that she is one of the two teachers of the beekeepers class that I'm going to attend. She does not sell packages but she does seem to use that term a little. Like I said, semantics. Anyhow, she  has one over-wintered nuc that can go whenever the weather is right. Otherwise, she splits hives and says that they need to ensure that the queens are mated and laying before they can sell them. No deposit is necessary to have my name on that nuc. All of that taken into consideration, I think I have a good deal here.

[The15thMember]

She does not sell packages but she does seem to use that term a little. Like I said, semantics.

The difference between a package and a nuc is not semantics, and I've never heard anyone use the words interchangeably, so that's a little odd to me, but whatever. 

Anyhow, she  has one over-wintered nuc that can go whenever the weather is right. Otherwise, she splits hives and says that they need to ensure that the queens are mated and laying before they can sell them. No deposit is necessary to have my name on that nuc. All of that taken into consideration, I think I have a good deal here.

I agree.  If I were you, I'd reserve that nuc.  Are you going to try and catch a swarm then for a second colony?  Because it is advisable to have two colonies your first season, not just one. 

[cao]

Sounds like you found someone to get your bees from. 

Just a few thoughts:
Some of the early nucs are shipped in from the south.
Some beeks will buy queens(from south) to put in nucs to sell them early.
Later nucs raised locally can do better than the early ones from southern genetics.
As long as you get your nuc during the typical swarm season for your area than they should do just fine.
To me package bees aren't worth the money spent.

[Terri Yaki]

The difference between a package and a nuc is not semantics, and I've never heard anyone use the words interchangeably, so that's a little odd to me, but whatever.

I'm used to it, clip/magazine, license to carry firearms (LTCF)/concealed carry permit (CCP), forklift/towmotor, refrigerator/frigidaire, I don't sweat it as long as we all understand what we really mean.

I agree.  If I were you, I'd reserve that nuc.  Are you going to try and catch a swarm then for a second colony?  Because it is advisable to have two colonies your first season, not just one.

Yep, nuc is reserved and I am going to try and catch a swarm. If it's gets near a safe cutoff point, I'll buy another nuc.

[Michael Bush]

My problems with nucs are:

1) they usually come on the wrong size frames (I want mediums)
2) they come on the wrong size cells (I want small cell)

Packages solve both these issues if I put them on the frame size and cell size I want.

[Terri Yaki]

My problems with nucs are:

1) they usually come on the wrong size frames (I want mediums)
2) they come on the wrong size cells (I want small cell)

Packages solve both these issues if I put them on the frame size and cell size I want.

They are five frame mediums and I've heard a little about cell size but I'm still trying to figure that out. My hives came with plastic foundations in yellow and black. Black for the deep frame and yellow for the medium frame supers. I looked at them and they all looked like the same size cell base to me but I didn't get my mic or calipers out.

[yes2matt]

Oh goodness here we go.  [emoji14]

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

[The15thMember]

Small cell foundation isn't the norm, so I'm guessing your hives came with standard large cell foundation.  Are you planning on using all mediums, Terri? 

[Michael Bush]

Lighter equipment:
https://bushfarms.com/beeseightframemedium.htm

Small Cell:
https://bushfarms.com/beesnaturalcell.htm
https://bushfarms.com/beessctheories.htm
https://bushfarms.com/beesfoursimplesteps.htm#naturalsize
https://bushfarms.com/beesnotreatments.htm

[Terri Yaki]

Small cell foundation isn't the norm, so I'm guessing your hives came with standard large cell foundation.  Are you planning on using all mediums, Terri?

I got me two of these, assembled, stacked in the garage, and schmutzed up with some slum-gum. I also got a couple of frames with comb off of my neighbor, which I gave the freezer treatment. Is there any reason to keep a nuc around if you have an extra box and frames to put them into?

https://www.vevor.com/bee-hive-c_10974/vevor-beehive-box-kit-bee-honey-hive-40-frames-2-deep-2-medium-natural-fir-wood-p_010394677269

[Terri Yaki]

Lighter equipment:
https://bushfarms.com/beeseightframemedium.htm

Small Cell:
https://bushfarms.com/beesnaturalcell.htm
https://bushfarms.com/beessctheories.htm
https://bushfarms.com/beesfoursimplesteps.htm#naturalsize
https://bushfarms.com/beesnotreatments.htm

OK, that's a lot to consider. Maybe I'll make an experiment hive down the road. And I was wondering how I get those medium nucs into a deep frame. I am a KISS guy so transitioning to all mediums does not sound bad.

[BeeMaster2]

Terri,
Medium frames can go into a bottom deep box with no trouble. If you put them in an upper deep box, the bees will fill in the space between the upper and lower frames to fill the gap. I started with deep boxes and when I decided to go all medium frames I cut the deep boxes on a table saw and turned them into medium boxes. Then I used the cut off pieces and added them to my shallow boxes to make them mediums. I also cut the bottoms of the deep frames to make them medium frames.
Jim Altmiller

[Michael Bush]

Depth is a two part issue.  1) having all the same size frames and boxes is much simpler.  2) 8 frame mediums won't be over 50 lbs.  10 frame mediums won't weigh over 60 lbs.  10 frame deeps can weigh 90 lbs.

[The15thMember]

Having tried two sizes of boxes when I first started, I'd recommend just using all one size if you can, because it's way easier to be able to move things around that way.  But like Jim said, you can put mediums in a deep with no trouble.  I put shallows in mediums all the time. 

[Bill Murray]

Terri keep it simple.

1) for your brood boxes Keep it all the same size. Deeps or mediums, your choice. But another nice caveat to mediums is your honey supers are the same size.

2) My opinion, first hives-go with NUCS. What to look for?

A) local bees, local queens. Talk to who your getting the bees from. I could really go off in the weeds here but to keep it simple I wont.

B) pick them up in the evening time, after the bewitching hour, when all the field bees are home. A good 5 frame NUC will have 4 frames of bees+. If they dont, dont get them.

C) Talk to your supplier and see if they were treated, when, and what treatment they used. If your not happy with the answer dont get them.

D) When you open them up look at the open brood. If its not pearly white. dont get them. Look at the capped brood. If you see holes in the cappings, look at them for a minute it could be bees hatching, if not dont get them.

E) I havnt bought bees in years but back when I did if there was a queen issue I was either refunded or got a new queen. Talk to your supplier and if not, Get a new supplier

F) Your supplier should be able to offer you medium Nucs if you let him know about this time. If not, Find a new supplier.

[Terri Yaki]

Beekeeper class started last night with the basics. They brushed on nucs and it leaves me with one question in particular. I am set-up for deep brood boxes and the nuc I had intended to buy is in medium frames. What to do?

[Bill Murray]

If you have mediums for honey supers put them in those and start there. If you want to run deeps put the deep on top of the medium, get comb drawn in that then reverse the boxes later in the year.