Guilfordbeekeepers.org

What would the difference be in buying a hive and starting with package bees vs. buying a hive and starting with a nuc??

Welcome to the forum.

A package of bees is just that... a queen and a lot of bees maybe 7 to 10 thousand bees in a box that you dump into in a hive with empty frames or frames with blank foundation.

A nuc is a mini hive most likely 5 deep frames with 6-7 thousand bees and a queen. The 5 frames will have brood of various stages and maybe some honey and pollen.

So the package will have to start from scratch and draw out the comb and lay eggs and wait 21 days for the eggs to hatch.
The nuc is a few weeks ahead with comb, eggs and larva already present. So the nuc will be able to build up faster.

Hope this answers your question.

Ski

That helps out alot. So....I would want to try and get a nuc before settling on a package of bees?????

Locust & Honey

As a beginner that is what I would do but as you will find out in reading the many web sites such as this one and talking with experienced beekeepers is that there are very few hard and fast rules.

Getting a nuc may be better than a package buying a hive of bees may be better then getting a nuc.

What are you trying to experience. A lot of it is personal preferance, what is available, and what you want/can afford.



Ski

Welcome to the forum.
If you buy a package, install them in a 5 frame box, the queen will start laying in about a week. She will increase her rate of laying as they draw comb and give her empty cells to lay in. After about 4 weeks, the first of her eggs begin emerging. Five to six weeks after installing, the bees will have all 5 frames drawn out, honey and pollen surrounding the brood chamber, and bees emerging daily. At that time you can say you have a nuc.

That is how much difference there is in a package and a 5 frame nuc.

Wally. Can you give me your e-mail address? I need to e-mail you something. I meet you in the bee class but have lost your e-mail. I don't have e-mail set-up on my computer and when I click on your e-mail logo it just gives me a fault. Thanks.

Locust&Honey,

I talked with Wally today and he is a bit under the weather. But his E-mail address as listed in the forum is below. If this does not work try sending a private message (PM) through the forum.

iddee@triad.rr.com


Ski

Wally's email address has changed.
Please pm him as he should have his email updated on this site.

Thanks Kurt. I am new and didn't see that option. That helps out alot. Thanks.

IDDEE@northstate.net is my new one.
I'll try to answer more tomorrow if I feel better.
Flu got me.