Management of Nuc’sManagement of Nuc’sPresentedPresented

ByBy

The Ohio State Beekeeper’s AssociationThe Ohio State Beekeeper’s Association

Management of Nuc’sManagement of Nuc’s

What is a nucleus hive?What is a nucleus hive?

Three purposes for managing Nuc’sThree purposes for managing Nuc’s1)1) To sell to individuals beginning a new hive. To sell to individuals beginning a new hive.

(Nuc production)(Nuc production)2)2) Used to mate virgin queens (queen Used to mate virgin queens (queen

production).production).3)3) Used to manage summer increases/hold Used to manage summer increases/hold

several queens for requeening in an several queens for requeening in an emergency/ and over wintering.emergency/ and over wintering.

Nuc’s sold to individuals beginning a Nuc’s sold to individuals beginning a new hive. (Nuc production)new hive. (Nuc production)

One way is produce income from your bees is to sell One way is produce income from your bees is to sell nuc’s to those wanting to start new hives.nuc’s to those wanting to start new hives.

Very short term management….Very short term management…. Nuc’s are sold as 4 or 5 frame starter hives. A nuc has Nuc’s are sold as 4 or 5 frame starter hives. A nuc has

a number of advantages over packages bees. They also a number of advantages over packages bees. They also offer a few disadvantages.offer a few disadvantages.

A good nuc hive will have three frames of brood in all A good nuc hive will have three frames of brood in all stages of development, a good laying queen, and some stages of development, a good laying queen, and some honey and pollen stores.honey and pollen stores.

About these nuc’sAbout these nuc’s A nuc can be made up A nuc can be made up

from a strong hive. Any from a strong hive. Any hive which is strong hive which is strong enough to be split can be enough to be split can be used to make up one or used to make up one or two nuc’s.two nuc’s.

You need three frames of You need three frames of brood and enough bees brood and enough bees to cover the brood + extra to cover the brood + extra bees and a laying queen. bees and a laying queen. Add a frame of honey and Add a frame of honey and pollen and another frame pollen and another frame of bees if making up a of bees if making up a five frame nuc.five frame nuc.

CommentsComments You can build nuc boxes to transport these bees You can build nuc boxes to transport these bees

to their new hive, have the customer provide to their new hive, have the customer provide their own equipment, or use cardboard nuc their own equipment, or use cardboard nuc boxes sold for just this purpose.boxes sold for just this purpose.

The price charged depends upon--- condition of The price charged depends upon--- condition of frames, number of frames, new queen or old frames, number of frames, new queen or old queen, frame exchange, nuc box used and queen, frame exchange, nuc box used and prevailing charges for nuc’s in your area. prevailing charges for nuc’s in your area. I I noticed that Better Bee advertises nuc’s sold noticed that Better Bee advertises nuc’s sold either in your box or deposit required for either in your box or deposit required for theirs to be returned.theirs to be returned.

This is very important!This is very important!

All nuc’s sold should be inspected by your All nuc’s sold should be inspected by your state inspection service prior to sale.state inspection service prior to sale.

Some states do not allow bees to be Some states do not allow bees to be imported into their states on combimported into their states on comb. (Check . (Check out all laws governing the sale of bees and out all laws governing the sale of bees and comb in your state).comb in your state).

Some states do not allow bees to be Some states do not allow bees to be

imported into their states on combimported into their states on comb.. Why?Why? AFB is easily spread on AFB is easily spread on

comb in nuc’s or hives of comb in nuc’s or hives of bees.bees.

It is still a major bee It is still a major bee disease in the U.S.disease in the U.S.

Would you want to be Would you want to be responsible for spreading responsible for spreading this disease into this disease into someone else’s someone else’s beekeeping operation?beekeeping operation?

Used to mate virgin queens (queen Used to mate virgin queens (queen production).production).

If you are raising If you are raising queens, each new queens, each new queen will require a queen will require a nuc, or a separate nuc, or a separate section within a multi-section within a multi-nuc. nuc.

Various sizes of nuc’s Various sizes of nuc’s are used! Shown are used! Shown here is a four frame here is a four frame mini nuc.mini nuc.

queen productionqueen production

Management of small Management of small sized nuc’s requires sized nuc’s requires more intensive more intensive attention than larger attention than larger nuc’s.nuc’s.

Larger nuc’s such as Larger nuc’s such as a nuc designed to a nuc designed to hold standard size full hold standard size full deep frames, require deep frames, require less attention.less attention.

Managing Nuc’s for Increase/over Managing Nuc’s for Increase/over wintering/queen replacementwintering/queen replacement

I would recommend that beekeepers I would recommend that beekeepers maintain several nuc hives during the bee maintain several nuc hives during the bee season. season. (Dana Stahlman)(Dana Stahlman)

Have on hand ready a queen replacement for any queen-less or failing Have on hand ready a queen replacement for any queen-less or failing queen hive.queen hive.

They could be used to make increases or to add bee populations to They could be used to make increases or to add bee populations to hives during nectar flows. hives during nectar flows. Five frame nuc hives can explode in Five frame nuc hives can explode in population growth in a very short period of timepopulation growth in a very short period of time..

They could be used to make summer increases as described in Larry They could be used to make summer increases as described in Larry

Conner’s book “Increase Essentials”.Conner’s book “Increase Essentials”.

Have on hand ready a queen replacement for any Have on hand ready a queen replacement for any queen-less or failing queen hive.queen-less or failing queen hive.

A queen can lay 2000+ eggs A queen can lay 2000+ eggs

per day.per day. In 10 days this can amount to In 10 days this can amount to

20,000 honey bees.20,000 honey bees. In 20 days this can amount to In 20 days this can amount to

40,000 honey bees.40,000 honey bees.

Remember the old adage Remember the old adage “honey bees make honey!”“honey bees make honey!”

They can be used to make summer They can be used to make summer increasesincreases

Adapting to climate conditions in the northAdapting to climate conditions in the north It is true that increases are made often in early April but It is true that increases are made often in early April but

not with Northern raised queens. not with Northern raised queens. The person wanting to The person wanting to make increases in April or early May have no choice but make increases in April or early May have no choice but to buy queens rather than raise their own.to buy queens rather than raise their own.

However, what would happen if you could make summer However, what would happen if you could make summer increases and hold them over the winter?increases and hold them over the winter?

Using your over wintered nuc’s to make strong new Using your over wintered nuc’s to make strong new hives in the spring.hives in the spring.

Using your over wintered nuc’s to make Using your over wintered nuc’s to make strong new hives in the springstrong new hives in the spring

It is possible to over winter nuc’s and single deep hives It is possible to over winter nuc’s and single deep hives in the north.in the north.

RequirementsRequirements Plenty of food stores -- Nuc’s fed in late summerPlenty of food stores -- Nuc’s fed in late summer Treat for diseaseTreat for disease Good healthy queensGood healthy queens Good healthy bee stockGood healthy bee stock Some sort of protectionSome sort of protection Beekeepers use various methods to over winter nuc’s.Beekeepers use various methods to over winter nuc’s.

Various methods to over winter nuc’sVarious methods to over winter nuc’s

Some nuc’s are placed above Some nuc’s are placed above strong hives. The heat from strong hives. The heat from the hive below helps the the hive below helps the smaller unit above.smaller unit above.

Some nuc’s are placed in Some nuc’s are placed in shelters. shelters.