Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: tlynn on January 03, 2009, 08:52:34 pm
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I recently bought 2 nucs from Brushy Mountain along with some other hives components because everybody says you have to have some nucs ready, and I couldn't pass up the free shipping :-) . I found out what you all mean after using one to shrink a weak hive today. Where they couldn't handle the space of a full deep before, they are full now in the nuc, well, almost.
So my question is this - I understand using a nuc for catching a swarm and for the use I just experienced. What else can I do with them?
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Splitting a hive.
I use 10 frame boxes with slots cut in the inside of the front and back that I slide that plastic election sign stuff in so I can drop frames in as they grow without disrupting them. Can't use screen bottom boards or slat racks with them though.
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Splitting a hive.
I use 10 frame boxes with slots cut in the inside of the front and back that I slide that plastic election sign stuff in so I can drop frames in as they grow without disrupting them. Can't use screen bottom boards or slat racks with them though.
Yeah you can, build your own like I did.
As for other uses for a nuc:
1. Small hive cut outs.
2. Overwinter OB Hive.
3. Walk away splits.
4. Queen bank, cut a groove centered on each end (inside) for sliding a queen 2 frames of worker bees. When you need to requeen just pull the 2 frames and insert into hive that needs the queen.
5. Raising Queens, a combination of #3 & 4 above.
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They make great oversized mailboxes too :-P Good for the honey selling biz....
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They make great oversized mailboxes too :-P Good for the honey selling biz....
Haha! Robo, what do you mean about the honey selling biz? Like a display?
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They are one of the most usefull tools that you can have on stand by. Swarms, splits, a place to put a weak hive into to bring it back up to par. I had a nuc that needed repaired so I converted it into a nice toolbox, like the ones that are listed on the Brushy Mountain website. Since I make my own, I only had a few bucks in it and it will double as a swarm box if I need it.
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I use one for about all the reasons listed thus far. I always have one in the truck. And after awhile, they make a great place to throw trash, extra parts, and whatever else I need to find a place for something as I'm cleaning up at the end of a beeyard visit. :-D
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Haha! Robo, what do you mean about the honey selling biz? Like a display?
Nothing like a beehive malibox in front of your house to get people's attention and let them know your a beekeeper :-P
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Here's a pretty long list:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesnucs.htm#goodfor