Nucleus
Colonies (Nucs)
These are starter colonies consisting of four or
five frames with a laying Queen. Usually, they are
made up of two or three frames of capped brood, a
frame of honey and pollen, and may have a frame for
the Queen to lay eggs in.
If
you are buying a nucleus colony, get it from a
reputable dealer, someone who maintains a
disease-free apiary and good quality stock. Often
this person will have you bring your equipment to
their establishment. Then they will put in the
frames of brood and install a new Queen. They will
then usually wait a week or two to make sure the
Queen is laying and everything looks right. You will
then receive a call to come and get your colony. The
hive entrance will be sealed and top ventilation
(screened) will be provided. Take your bees to your
chosen location and set the hive in place. Remove
the entrance seal and walk away. Your bees will be
excited from the trip movement and will usually come
rushing out. Once they have settled down, put your
entrance reducer in place allowing a small opening
for access and for guarding.
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