Trying out Carniolan queens in Nucs

[tidewatcher]

Have made 5, 5 frame nucs the past weeks and queend with NWC queens, My question is, how many nucs do you think is fair to give them a good try. I have only ever had Italians. Not sure what to expect, just trying something new.

[Adrian Quiney WI]

Tidewatcher, it is a low risk venture. I would try as many NWC nucs as you think you, or your nuc customers, may need. My NWC origin nucs did fine last year, assuming they overwinter well they will have to be watched closely during build-up as they run out of space quickly.

[Katharina]

I was going to say that they run out of space fast. I still think it is great to start them in nucs, but I go straight for the deep if I have 3 pounds of bees going with the queen. The nucs are great, if you like to raise your own queen. They are really good at it too.

[tidewatcher]

I am excited to be trying them out. I hope to be able to pull some frames of brood from them and keep expanding nuc and or hives from them. So, 5 is enough of a sample size to give them a fair shake?

[Adrian Quiney WI]

Yes, 5 should allow you some comparisons.