Management of Nuc’s PresentedBy The Ohio State Beekeeper’s Association

Management of Nuc’s  What is a nucleus hive? Three purposes for managing Nuc’s 1) To sell to individuals beginning a new hive. (Nuc production) 2) Used to mate virgin queens (queen production). 3) Used to manage summer increases/hold several queens for requeening in an emergency/ and over wintering.

Nuc’s sold to individuals beginning a new hive. (Nuc production)  One way is produce income from your bees is to sell nuc’s to those wanting to start new hives.  Very short term management….  Nuc’s are sold as 4 or 5 frame starter hives. A nuc has a number of advantages over packages bees. They also offer a few disadvantages.  A good nuc hive will have three frames of brood in all stages of development, a good laying queen, and some honey and pollen stores.

About these nuc’s  A nuc can be made up from a strong hive. Any hive which is strong enough to be split can be used to make up one or two nuc’s.  You need three frames of brood and enough bees to cover the brood + extra bees and a laying queen. Add a frame of honey and pollen and another frame of bees if making up a five frame nuc.

Comments  You can build nuc boxes to transport these bees to their new hive, have the customer provide their own equipment, or use cardboard nuc boxes sold for just this purpose.  The price charged depends upon--- condition of frames, number of frames, new queen or old queen, frame exchange, nuc box used and prevailing charges for nuc’s in your area. I noticed that Better Bee advertises nuc’s sold either in your box or deposit required for theirs to be returned.

This is very important!  All nuc’s sold should be inspected by your state inspection service prior to sale.  Some states do not allow bees to be imported into their states on comb. (Check out all laws governing the sale of bees and comb in your state).

Some states do not allow bees to be imported into their states on comb.  Why?  AFB is easily spread on comb in nuc’s or hives of bees.  It is still a major bee disease in the U.S.  Would you want to be responsible for spreading this disease into someone else’s beekeeping operation?

Used to mate virgin queens (queen production).  If you are raising queens, each new queen will require a nuc, or a separate section within a multi- nuc.  Various sizes of nuc’s are used! Shown here is a four frame mini nuc.

queen production  Management of small sized nuc’s requires more intensive attention than larger nuc’s.  Larger nuc’s such as a nuc designed to hold standard size full deep frames, require less attention.

Managing Nuc’s for Increase/over wintering/queen replacement  I would recommend that beekeepers maintain several nuc hives during the bee season. (Dana Stahlman) Have on hand ready a queen replacement for any queen-less or failing queen hive. Have on hand ready a queen replacement for any queen-less or failing queen hive. They could be used to make increases or to add bee populations to hives during nectar flows. Five frame nuc hives can explode in population growth in a very short period of time. They could be used to make increases or to add bee populations to hives during nectar flows. Five frame nuc hives can explode in population growth in a very short period of time. They could be used to make summer increases as described in Larry Conner’s book “Increase Essentials”. They could be used to make summer increases as described in Larry Conner’s book “Increase Essentials”.

Have on hand ready a queen replacement for any queen-less or failing queen hive.  A queen can lay eggs per day.  In 10 days this can amount to 20,000 honey bees.  In 20 days this can amount to 40,000 honey bees.  Remember the old adage “honey bees make honey!”

They can be used to make summer increases  Adapting to climate conditions in the north It is true that increases are made often in early April but not with Northern raised queens. The person wanting to make increases in April or early May have no choice but to buy queens rather than raise their own. It is true that increases are made often in early April but not with Northern raised queens. The person wanting to make increases in April or early May have no choice but to buy queens rather than raise their own. However, what would happen if you could make summer increases and hold them over the winter? However, what would happen if you could make summer increases and hold them over the winter? Using your over wintered nuc’s to make strong new hives in the spring. Using your over wintered nuc’s to make strong new hives in the spring.

Using your over wintered nuc’s to make strong new hives in the spring  It is possible to over winter nuc’s and single deep hives in the north. Requirements Requirements  Plenty of food stores -- Nuc’s fed in late summer  Treat for disease  Good healthy queens  Good healthy bee stock  Some sort of protection  Beekeepers use various methods to over winter nuc’s.

Various methods to over winter nuc’s  Some nuc’s are placed above strong hives. The heat from the hive below helps the smaller unit above.  Some nuc’s are placed in shelters.