mini nucs

[DaveG]

Does anyone use the mini nucs by mann lake? if so are they any goodwhat are the pros and cons to them

[tecumseh]

don't use th mann lake mini nucs, but I do use a few mini nucs that I have built myself from scrap. the most predictable downside is that it takes a season (or one good flow) to get the mini nuc frames drawn so they can be of use.

[pahvantpiper]

Olivarez Honey Bees out of California has thousand of them and they love them for mating nucs. Wouldn't want to try and over winter in them though.

-Rob

[greenbeekeeping]

I have a few of the mating nucs. The seem to work ok but I prefer 4 - 5 frame deep nucs for mating. Its nice to keep equipment interchangalbe. That and if you have someone that wants to buy a nuc there it is. Also we are starting to hear of more hive beetles in northern Indiana and from what I have heard they like smaller colonies like that. So I am going to stick with larger mating nucs.

[DaveG]

thanks for the input on mini nucs, I didn't know that about the small hive beetle perfering smaller colonies'good stuff to know. although we don't have it here yet,and getting the small frames drawn out also something I haven't considered.No I will not over winter them in the mini nucs,I mainly want them for the mated queens to requeen my existing hives.thanks again everyone.

dave

[jean-marc]

I've got a few dozen. I like them fine. You only need a cup of bees to stock them. Fill the feeder twice with corn syrup or liquid sucrose and the frames will be drawn out. They are very cheap to own and operate. I'm thinking of getting a few more next season.

Jean-Marc

[Nick Noyes]

I have some and think they work great. Getting the frames drawn didn't seem to be to hard. We don't have SHB yet but I heard they don't work well with SHB in the area. We don't overwinter them. I just shake the bees out when done and store them in a cooler to keep the mothes out.

[DaveG]

well, it looks like way more pros than cons with them, thanks everyone looks like I'm going to do some buying

Dave