Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: DCHoneybees on February 20, 2012, 06:43:59 pm

Title: My homemade bread and butter nuc
Post by: DCHoneybees on February 20, 2012, 06:43:59 pm

A little more expensive than some other plans, but sturdy and holds a frame feeder plus five frames.  A great nuc for overwintering colonies, too (I hope!).

http://dchoneybees.blogspot.com/2012/02/building-nucs-ahead-of-bee-deliveries.html (http://dchoneybees.blogspot.com/2012/02/building-nucs-ahead-of-bee-deliveries.html)

Title: Re: My homemade bread and butter nuc
Post by: BlueBee on February 20, 2012, 08:22:36 pm

I like it DC!

I suspect this will outlast a plywood design by a factor of 2 or more.  I can see instances where the plywood designs would be good (low cost swarm traps), but for a nuc I prefer something more weather resistant like your design.

I like the idea of more space in a nuc so you can stick in a feeder.  Are those frame feeders with bee ladders working well for you?  Do you like them better than other options like quart jars or the plastic nuc top feeders?

Title: Re: My homemade bread and butter nuc
Post by: DCHoneybees on February 20, 2012, 11:41:49 pm

I've found that with these frame feeders I get better syrup take up.  My inverted 2-quart jars do similarly well but like the higher capacity of the frame feeders.  the hive tops feeders I've used have been unpredictable as it relates to cold weather take-up.  So, there you go!