Nuc's vs. Packaged

[nepenthes]

Ok, So Im not getting bee's till spring just so you guys know...

But when I am ordering Bee's I was wondering the Pro's and Con's of Nuc's compared to packaged bee's.

And I am also wondering if you order a nuc do they come with queens? I think I might have misenteriprited what some one said, they said that nuc's come with brood and stores as it is, is that true?

:?

thanks... Also do I want to Pre order my bee's now or order them in the spring? Im very catious as all ive heard about were the packaged bee's but not so much on the Nuc's.

Thanks,
Cody

[Mici]

Open your eyes

[thegolfpsycho]

Much of this has been covered in other threads, but I'm feeling a bit chatty today.

When you get a nuc, you get a working colony.  4 or 5 frames, usually consisting of a couple frames of honey and pollen, active brood nest, queen included and laying.  It is frequently a deep, so transferring to mediums if you have chosen to go that way, is a hassle.  It has about a month head start on a package.  Some sellers require an equipment swap, or deposit until equipment is returned.  Get the information up front.

Packages are just a screened box of bees, with a caged queen and a syrup can.  As your first colony, you would be introducing them to bare foundation or starter strips, and as mentioned above, takes some time for them to start growing.  They have to draw some comb, get the brood nest established etc.  During this time, they actually dwindle some as bees are not replaced with emerging brood as they die off.  The first brood emerges in about 3 weeks, but real growth is probably another few weeks off.

Brood diseases, contaminated comb, may well come with a nuc.  I would certainly have someone with experience go through the nuc with you before purchasing one.  Packages obviously have their own set of problems.  You just have to choose the route you want to take.  Once you get a colony or two going, making your own nucs and or splits is very simple and habit forming.  Keeping the number of colonys under control becomes a real problem for me.  Also, if your ordering bees, I would do so as soon as wherever you are getting them will accept an order.  Not much left in the spring.

[Michael Bush]

A search will reveal many discussions on the subject.

Short version, a nuc is a month ahead of a package.  A nuc is usually only available in deeps, which I don't want, and large cell, whiich I don't want.  So I usually buy packages.