Natural Beekeeping International Forum

[luk_lak]

Hello all,

I have an opportunity to purchase a nuc now. Is it still a good time? Will the bees have enough time to build stores for winter? When is the end of nectar/pollen season?

If it is possible under some cirmumstances what they may be? I'm thinking of number of bees, number of comb stores ect.

Thank you in advance for all answers

[Smorning]

Earlier is better the best nucs are those over wintered that are usually sold in early spring. The nucs for sale now are from splits mainly and can be viable but you need to keep an eye on them and feed them to build them up for the winter.

[luk_lak]

Beekeeper said that because I have top bar he can only offer me a "package" - so bunch of bees + queen in a box. And I'll have to feed them till winter so they can build up stores and comb. And those are the things I do not want to do.

[Ed the Beek]

I have just installed a Nuc into a HTBH, bought the Nuc 10 days ago, 4 days later did a crop and chop to fit the frames into the HTBH. The bees seem to be very busy doing what they should, bringing back nectar and pollen. I think you have more of a chance with a Nuc than a package as the bees are established and already raising brood, if you don't think they have enough stores by autumn then you can still feed them. Personally I don't like the idea of feeding the bees but it all depends on the nectar flow in your area.

[Paul Reyes]

The best time to buy nucs is spring time.