givemeone,
Keep in mind, I always write, knowing that any conversation will be archived and read by thousands of beekeepers for many years to come. So do not it personally.
Some advice.....
Yes, I agree with you. And I would encourage you NOT to buy nucs again as you described. For many years, until recently, nucs were locally produced, allowing the beekeeper buying them to visit, ask questions, and know what you were buying, and from whom you were buying.
But recently in the past few years, it seems the commercial guys who traditionally did not make up nucs after almond pollination, are changing over from the decreased honey yield business, and going after the influx of new beekeepers needing bees.
I have been on the record for years, and bashed for that same period, as being against suggesting to anyone, the idea of buying commercial nucs from migratory beekeepers. There is little chance of knowing the history of the comb, visiting the operation, or inspecting bees prior to pickup, as you commented. And this holds true by the offering of nucs handled by middleman or third party operations. I know several guys advertising nucs, with little mention that they are being made up elsewhere from commercial hives coming back from almond pollination.
No need to suggest to others with your comments that nucs gave you SHB or anything else. The nucs did not do that. It was the nature of the operation providing nucs in the manner you described.
Nucs are great from local sources. They offer localized or regionalized bees, support your bee industry in your state, allow you to visit the producer, ask questions, see what you are buying, and have a source of knowledge after the sale.
You lose all that when some guy makes up nucs after almonds, in another state, and then are sold by middlemen or third party operators. So rant against a particular supplier, or the way they were offered. But to suggest for everyone reading this thread, that nucs could give you SHB, is incorrect, if you buy from the right nuc producer.
As a side note about your chickens. No SHB came from holes in the ground anywhere near where your hives or chickens are kept. Not unless you allowed an entire life cycle to be completed inside your hives. Any SHB finding your hives came from far away, and flew right past your chickens. They did not walk past your chickens.
You need to quit dealing with bee "suppliers" and find a local source from a bee "producer" of nucs. That, or go with packages. Good luck!