Nuc question for ya.

[ImaNewBeeToThis]

People are saying go with all mediums to start out with, and I want do this but I saw that places are selling their nucs but their frames won't fit my mediums. So Will i have to start out with a deep for the bottom, then go with mediums on the rest?

[Andrew Dewey]

You've hit the nail on the head with this observation. Most nucs are provided in the traditional way as deeps. There are medium nucs out there but they are not (yet?!) the popular darlings of the nuc production, though they are popular on BeeSource and in some books.

If you want to start out using all mediums and can not find a person willing to sell you a medium nuc, you would be better off with a package than you would a deep nuc. A deep nuc is going to require you to either get a deep box to add to your hive or to cut down the frames and foundation so that they will fit in a medium nuc box. This last step is not a good one for an inexperienced beekeeper to attempt.

If you can't find medium nucs, buy packages and start them in your own medium equipment.

[oblib]

It also comes down to how far you are willing to drive to get them. Also depends on how many you want as maybe the supplier will meet you half way. I know I would be willing to meet you halfway for 10 but wouldn't even want to drive to the next town over from me for only 1

[urbanoutlaw]

Two of the nuc sellers I considered here in VA provide both medium and standard nucs. The advice given to me was to use (2?) mediums if forced to buy deep frame nucs while running medium boxes, then transition to medium frames when adding subsequent boxes.

Of course, I have zero experience, so you'll need feedback from someone with a clue, but maybe this will spark potential solutions to your problem.

[JenWV]

You could make a temporary Deep out of a Med. by making a 3" shim

[rkereid]

When I did this same thing years ago, I took a deep box and cut some wood to fill the space at the bottom of the medium frames that were to each side of the deep frames from the nuc. The bees eventually worked on to the medium frames to each side and above. The following year I removed the deep frames when the bees were not using them, then the deep box was removed as well.

[ImaNewBeeToThis]

Well walter t kelly does provide a medium nuc, but there not available til may 4th is this normal or to late in the season.

[sfisher]

You might as well start with a package. But keep searching for some medium nucs, they are out there.

[Michael Bush]

You can make a shim that is the equivalent (or is actually) of the top 3" off of a nuc box and set it on top of your box and put five deeps in your medium and then cover the gap on the side with another board.

[Irmo]

My club sells nucs raised by members. They come in both medium and deep. I noticed that the overwintered nucs were available after the packages came in last year. It depends on how fast they get going coming out of winter. The nucs ramp up faster than packages.

[sfisher]

Not everyone does this but I purchased my medium nucs from Silver Spoon Apiaries Wilmington Nc. And Barry gave me 8 frames instead of 5 since they were mediums.

[oblib]

Not everyone does this but I purchased my medium nucs from Silver Spoon Apiaries Wilmington Nc. And Barry gave me 8 frames instead of 5 since they were mediums.

And thats what I'm doing this year, selling 8frame medium nucs. I think its only fair to do 8 frames or a cheaper price if selling mediums.

[tinadaisy]

If weight is the reason you're considering using all mediums, you could use 8 frame deeps with 8 frame mediums on top. I run one deep and one medium for the brood chamber. This setup works for me and it solves the nuc problem and is easier to lift than 10 frame equipment.

[Joseph Clemens]

Keeping hives with any combinations of different depth supers/frames always creates the same problem the O.P. brought up about starting medium frame colonies with deep frame nucs.