Is there such a thing

[learning]

Is there anyplace that sells nucs with bees grown in small cell? Even better in a medium and from a northern state and not much for chem used.

[Beorn]

Join your local beekeeper association and ask one of the member if they nucs on small cell. I think it's more likely that low volume (not the national suppliers like in GA) beeks will have bees on small cell.

[Ben Brewcat]

It's easy to regress to small cell, especially if you go foundationless and are starting from a nuc. I'd focus on finding a soft chemical nuc from someone nearby, the rest (getting them onto medium and small cell) is easily arranged.

Check out Michael Bush's great site: look under "lazy beekeeping" and under "natural cell size" for info on SC and regression.

http://www.bushfarms.com/bees.htm

My experience has matched what he describes; bees draw comb faster without foundation than with. This makes regression easy, culling easy, and no more messing with foundation. That said, I largely use Mann Lake's PF 120s now 'cuz they're cheap and small cell sized.

[Michael Bush]

Fatbeeman who is on here, sells small cell nucs.

[wayacoyote]

currently, we use all Medium equipment and SC comb. We're holding on to some deep equipment so that we can raise a few nucs in that for sell.

[learning]

Thanks for the info.

[idav5d]

I second the fatbeeman, I was up at his place over the weekend and his bees are looking great. We even hived a swarm...

[Matt NY]

I have only heard songs of praise concerning fatbeeman.

He isn't in the north though, but those that have brought them north seem to like them.

[learning]

Can anyone pm me fatbeeman's contact info? Did a search and found him.

[idav5d]

His web page at http://www.geocities.com/fatbeeman has all of his contact info

[learning]

Looks like I can get the nucs (even on mediums) from fat beeman! From his site and what he has emailed me it is just what I was looking for. I hope the girls do ok with our winters. Now I have more shopping to do. Hope those catalogs I have ordered arive soon! :applause:

[dcross]

I would go for something much more local. Shipping is a killer for your wallet and the bees.

[BeeCurious]

I would go for something much more local. Shipping is a killer for your wallet and the bees.

Shipping can be a killer for the bees...

I received two nucs last year that were dead, or nearly dead.

I never walked out of the Post Office with the one...

If you order nucs from Don be sure to have them shipped sooner than later.

You may wish you bought packages and started them on Mann Lake's PF-120' (http://www.mannlakeltd.com/ProductDetail.asp?idproduct=PF-120)s which are SC. Or lock the bees in on some Honey Super Cell (http://www.honeysupercell.com/) . You can buy individual pieces of HSC from Lapp's (http://www.lappsbeesupplycenter.com/index_files/Page1783.htm) . You might call Lapp's to ask about a local source of SC bees, or simply some over-wintered nucs.

[learning]

I ordered what I wanted. It may not work, we will see.

[BeeCurious]

I ordered what I wanted. It may not work, we will see.


That's good... but you have to tell us* what your getting!:)

Have fun and enjoy the forum, and the bees.


*not really




My fatman russians look like they might make it till spring.

[learning]

I ordered 2 nucs on mediums from fatbeeman. So that is Russian hybrids. I hope they make the long shipment. Sometimes you have to listen when the universe starts talking. He really does have what I want and even contacting the people that I was told would be "better" was difficult. My gut said to go with him and when I tried to even think of something else something always got in the way. If it does not work I will try something else.

As for hives I am awaiting multiple catalogs.

[BeeCurious]

Don's bees are very gentle.

[dcross]

Ever make it to the Brown County Beekeepers meeting? Been meaning to make it to some of the winter meetings myself.


http://browncountybeekeepers.wordpress.com/

Welcome to the world of bees! Leave your life and wallet at the door:)

[learning]

I did go. Most seem nice. Plan on going back.