I don't do either, only bee I ever bought was 1 queen. Get my bees from cut outs, swarm traps, splits, and shaking swarms. I start in spring with 2 frame nuc and swarm cells, place a frame with a capped queen cell bees and all with an empty frame in the 2 frame box. The queen emerges, gets mated and starts laying. I can make 4 off a strong colony and I'm only risking 1 frame of bees and brood per 2 frame colony. This gives me several utility colonies to pull brood or queens from. I can also add another 2 frame box if they pack out the 2 frame or split it. In growing the 2 frame I usually add a second 2 frame then move them to a 5 frame then add another 5 frame then go to 10 frames. Here in Texas bee keeping starts in late February.
I'm BRAND new to bees. Busy educating myself. I've just bought 2 nucs installed in hive ...to be picked up mid april( SE Texas). Meantime I will be attending local meetings and classes to get ready. Loving all your information. Thank you so much!
You are saying that with anucleus the queen is already accepted you don't have to worry about anything. That depends a lot of commercial queens are inferior. you might have to worry.
If you're starting out with a package, I'd recommend seeing if you can purchase a frame of drawn comb from your supplier or a friend. Once you're established, drawn comb is gold!
David, great video. I just ordered my first nucs for late March pick up (southern Louisiana). Is there any strategy to placing the nuc frames in the new hive box? For example, would you place the five nuc frames in the center and two or three undrawn frames on each side, or place the brood frames in the middle and then an undrawn frame on each side of that, then the resource frames and finish off with new undrawn frames at the outside of the hive body? My thinking is that by adding fresh frames between the brood and resources it may be easier to keep the brood area centered and compact. If there is no hard and fast "rule" on this I may do one hive each way and see what happens.
I had 2 package bees leave. And I have had nucleus leave the hive but I had a grass fire burn there hive at night. I love your videos and information and channel.
After a captured swarm failed over the winter, I received a Nuc at the end of March. It was amazing. I now have 3 double deep hives from that one Nuc. I am in Oregon.
Nucs put you ahead of the game but they cost more as well. I have question for you David. When you use the green drone frames and freeze them, how do you reuse them? Do you scrap everything off and let them start over or put the comb with dead brood and all back in the frame for them to clean up?
Before I watch this, I want to say I did this experiment a couple of years ago and I find the Nuc to be superior to the package. Now, let's see if David says I'm wrong or right! :)
I picked up a package in late March, it was to cold to leave them in my truck bed, so I put them in the cab with me. There were about 40 or 50 bees on the out side of the package. I turned off the heat but it was still warm in the cab. The bees came to life and flew around the cab. They didn't bother me but the car that came alongside of me freaked out and almost ran off the road. The only problem I had was they must not have pooped for a while and I had to wipe down the inside of my new truck bee poop all over. If you have no fear of bee's and I don't they usually won't bother you, or it could have been the music I was singing to.
![ร้อยพ่อพันแม่ - WanMai [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/XY2pNYASEbg/mqdefault.jpg)
Got nucs last year this year I’ll get packages if I need bees
My Son gave me money for Christmas just for hives.
I told we'll see how winter goes.
Northwest Ohio it's better to wait for packages.❤
I don't do either, only bee I ever bought was 1 queen. Get my bees from cut outs, swarm traps, splits, and shaking swarms. I start in spring with 2 frame nuc and swarm cells, place a frame with a capped queen cell bees and all with an empty frame in the 2 frame box. The queen emerges, gets mated and starts laying. I can make 4 off a strong colony and I'm only risking 1 frame of bees and brood per 2 frame colony. This gives me several utility colonies to pull brood or queens from. I can also add another 2 frame box if they pack out the 2 frame or split it. In growing the 2 frame I usually add a second 2 frame then move them to a 5 frame then add another 5 frame then go to 10 frames. Here in Texas bee keeping starts in late February.
I appreciate your comments and I'm going to speak more about this in Thursday video coming out at 1pm in the afternoon.
Both..
here the package is 160 and the nuc is 250 that was last year.
I used your comment in my recent video: th-cam.com/video/ZHu3wC0h_VM/w-d-xo.html
I'm BRAND new to bees. Busy educating myself. I've just bought 2 nucs installed in hive ...to be picked up mid april( SE Texas). Meantime I will be attending local meetings and classes to get ready. Loving all your information. Thank you so much!
The Bee store near me actually drives down and picks up the packages they sell. On pick up day they have like 3 million bees in the store.
Good for you. Your bees will thank you.
Dziękujemy.
How long does the Queen last and how can it be replaced? Yep new to beekeeping here.
1-3 years usually. When she dies, the hive raises a new one. If not the beekeeper will buy a new one.
You are saying that with anucleus the queen is already accepted you don't have to worry about anything. That depends a lot of commercial queens are inferior. you might have to worry.
I appreciate your comment and I'm going to address your question in Thursday's video coming out at 1pm Thursday afternoon.
If you're starting out with a package, I'd recommend seeing if you can purchase a frame of drawn comb from your supplier or a friend. Once you're established, drawn comb is gold!
I really appreciated that excellent video. Thanks.
Tommy Beez great info David..
David, great video. I just ordered my first nucs for late March pick up (southern Louisiana). Is there any strategy to placing the nuc frames in the new hive box? For example, would you place the five nuc frames in the center and two or three undrawn frames on each side, or place the brood frames in the middle and then an undrawn frame on each side of that, then the resource frames and finish off with new undrawn frames at the outside of the hive body? My thinking is that by adding fresh frames between the brood and resources it may be easier to keep the brood area centered and compact. If there is no hard and fast "rule" on this I may do one hive each way and see what happens.
Good question and I'm going to address your question in Thursday's video coming out at 1pm Thursday afternoon.
Will be there 👍
I had 2 package bees leave. And I have had nucleus leave the hive but I had a grass fire burn there hive at night. I love your videos and information and channel.
Great video. Looking forward to tomorrow live stream good topic 👍 😊
My first year i did one of each This way i was able to learn from each
I mentioned your comment in my recent video: th-cam.com/video/ZHu3wC0h_VM/w-d-xo.html
After a captured swarm failed over the winter, I received a Nuc at the end of March. It was amazing. I now have 3 double deep hives from that one Nuc. I am in Oregon.
That is awesome!
Nucs put you ahead of the game but they cost more as well.
I have question for you David. When you use the green drone frames and freeze them, how do you reuse them? Do you scrap everything off and let them start over or put the comb with dead brood and all back in the frame for them to clean up?
I answered your comment in my recent video: th-cam.com/video/ZHu3wC0h_VM/w-d-xo.html
excellent presentation, one of your best
Thank you kindly!
NUC💯 you have drawn comb and resources to start. Also, do not have to tamper with the queen
Hope I can find and get you to sing my hat at the expo.... Appreciate your vids
I answered your comment in my recent video: th-cam.com/video/ZHu3wC0h_VM/w-d-xo.html
No comparison 5 fram nuc
How many do you need to buy for fist time beekeeper 1 or 2 box
One package or nuc is for one hive.
Before I watch this, I want to say I did this experiment a couple of years ago and I find the Nuc to be superior to the package. Now, let's see if David says I'm wrong or right! :)
haha. Humorous comment. I used your comment in my recent video: th-cam.com/video/ZHu3wC0h_VM/w-d-xo.html
I think all TH-cam beekeepers should encourage new beekeepers to buy a nuc over package. 🎥 🐝👍🏼
Good comment. I used your comment in my recent video: th-cam.com/video/ZHu3wC0h_VM/w-d-xo.html
I picked up a package in late March, it was to cold to leave them in my truck bed, so I put them in the cab with me. There were about 40 or 50 bees on the out side of the package. I turned off the heat but it was still warm in the cab. The bees came to life and flew around the cab. They didn't bother me but the car that came alongside of me freaked out and almost ran off the road. The only problem I had was they must not have pooped for a while and I had to wipe down the inside of my new truck bee poop all over. If you have no fear of bee's and I don't they usually won't bother you, or it could have been the music I was singing to.
Funny story. I used your comment in my recent video: th-cam.com/video/ZHu3wC0h_VM/w-d-xo.html