Creating a nuc (nucleus colony) from a parent colony involves carefully selecting specific frames to ensure the new colony has the necessary resources to thrive. The process typically includes transferring frames with eggs, capped brood, and pollen/honey, along with adhering bees, into a nuc box. Additionally, adding a frame of foundation or empty comb helps the colony expand. Proper timing and resource availability in the parent colony are crucial for success, and supplemental feeding may be necessary if natural resources are insufficient.
Key Points Explained:
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Frame Selection for the Nuc:
- Two frames of eggs: These provide the new colony with young larvae that can be raised into worker bees, ensuring future population growth.
- One frame of capped brood: This frame contains pupae close to emerging, which will quickly bolster the nuc's adult bee population.
- One frame of pollen/honey: This supplies immediate food resources, critical for the bees' survival and brood rearing.
- Bees adhering to the frames: These nurse bees will care for the brood and maintain the nuc's temperature.
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Additional Frames for Expansion:
- One frame of foundation or empty comb: This gives the bees space to build new comb and store additional resources, promoting colony growth.
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Preparing the Parent Colony:
- Ensure the parent colony has sufficient incoming resources (pollen/nectar). If not, supplemental feeding with a 1:1 sugar-water mixture (when temperatures exceed 60°F) or pollen patties may be necessary to stimulate growth.
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Alternative Configurations:
- Instead of a single foundation frame, you can add:
- Three frames of foundation.
- Three frames of empty pulled comb.
- An additional frame of brood and two frames of honey/pollen from the parent colony, depending on availability and goals.
- Instead of a single foundation frame, you can add:
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Removing Frames from the Parent Colony:
- When making space for nuc frames, remove:
- Empty frames.
- Frames with only a few eggs or minimal brood.
- Frames of honey/pollen from the brood nest of weaker colonies.
- When making space for nuc frames, remove:
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Special Cases:
- If creating a nuc from a queenless colony, remove five frames, including:
- At least one frame with queen cells (to raise a new queen).
- One frame of mostly honey/pollen for food.
- If creating a nuc from a queenless colony, remove five frames, including:
By following these steps, you can successfully establish a nuc that has the best chance of developing into a strong, independent colony. Have you considered how the timing of nuc creation might align with local forage availability to minimize supplemental feeding needs?
Summary Table:
| Frame Type | Purpose |
|---|---|
| 2 Frames of Eggs | Provides young larvae for future worker bee population. |
| 1 Frame of Capped Brood | Quickly boosts adult bee population with emerging pupae. |
| 1 Frame of Pollen/Honey | Supplies immediate food for survival and brood rearing. |
| Bees Adhering to Frames | Nurse bees maintain temperature and care for brood. |
| 1 Frame of Foundation | Gives space for new comb building and resource storage. |
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