How to Set Up Your First Nuc Colony

hey everyone Welcome to our beginner's guide on setting up your first nucleus Hive if you're new to beekeeping or just curious about this amazing hobby you're in the right place today we're going to talk about what a nucleus or nuke Colony really is we'll find out why there's such a popular choice for beginners look at all the benefits and I'll show you step by step how to start your nuke and grow it into a thriving full-size Colony ready to get started let's go what is a nucleus Hive so what exactly is a nucleus Hive often called a nuke it's pretty much a mini colony of bees it's smaller than your standard beehive typically holding about 4 to 5 frames compared to the 8 to 10 in a full- siize hive this compact setup includes everything a beon needs to kick off a queen bee worker bees brood which means eggs and larvi and pre-drawn comb nukes are a fantastic starting line for new beekeepers for several good reasons they're not just less expensive and easier to handle than a full-size hive but having a smaller number of bees and an already functioning Queen makes the whole beekeeping Journey a lot smoother from the get-go why beinner beekeepers prefer nukes you might wonder why nukes are so popular among new beekeepers here's the Scoop ease of management handling fewer bees in frames makes the nuke much less daunting and easier to inspect and manage established Colony nukes come with a queen and ongoing brood so they're already up and running as a functioning Colony this cuts down down on the waiting and the uncertainty of establishing a new queen or waiting for eggs to hatch health and vitality generally nukes are healthier and more robust because they come from established colonies this means a lower risk of diseases and pests right from the start benefits of using nukes there are plenty of perks when it comes to using nukes swarm control creating a nuke from a full hiive can help keep swarming under control by reducing congestion in the parent Hive strengthening cones nukes can act as support or backup cones providing extra brood and bees to bolster other hives in your apiary requeening needs if you face Queen issues in other colonies having a nuke handy means you've got a ready Queen and brood to help out nearly instantly setting up your nucleus Hive a step-by-step guide step one preparing the equipment before you head out to pick up your nuke make sure you've got all the gear you need lined up you'll need a deep box that matches the frame size of your nuke a hive tool a smoker to calm the bees during the transfer protective gear like gloves in a bees suit a feeder for sugar water and an entrance reducer to keep the colony safe step two transporting your nuke when you pick up your nuke make sure it's securely closed to prevent any adventurous bees from making a break for it during the ride if you're using a car placing the nuke in a mesh bag can help keep any Escape ease contained step three placing the nuke at its new location once you're back at your apiary set up the nuke close to its permanent spot to help the bees get their bearings give the entrance a couple of light puffs of smoke and open up the lid gently to start moving the frames over step four transferring the frames carefully inspect each frame as you transfer it make sure to keep them in the same order to maintain the structure of the colony check for healthy brood signs like tiny rice like eggs lari that look like small grubs and cap cells that tell you new bees are on the way step five introducing the bees to their new home once all the frames are securely in place help any remaining bees in the nuke box move into their new home a gentle Shake should do the trick finally put on the inner cover and telescoping lid to keep the colony cozy and protected step six monitoring and managing your new Colony all right your bees are all settled into their new home now what well it's time to keep a close eye on them think of it as checking in on a pet except you know it's a few thousand beads regular checkups I recommend peeking into your hive about once a week initially you're looking to see if your queen is busy laying eggs those tiny grains of rice in the cells also watch for lii and cap brood it's like a nursery in there with all those future bees coming up keeping pest at Bay always be on the lookout for any Uninvited Guest gu like mites or beetles that can harm your bees catching these early makes all the difference feeding your bees especially in these early days your bees might need a little extra food to help them build up their home mixing up some sugar water a 1:1 ratio of sugar to water and setting it up in a feeder either inside or just outside the hide will give them a good boost step seven ensuring Colony growth as your little bee family starts to grow they'll need more room just like upgrading from a CO the apartment to a spacious house adding space when your hive is about 70 to 80% full it's time to add another box this gives everyone a bit more Elbow Room and helps keep the piece in the hive preventing a swarm bees are natural explorers and sometimes they want to sarm and find a new place keeping an eye out for Queen cells those peanut shaped cells assign they're planning to move if you spot these you might need to think about splitting your hive which can also start a whole new New Colony step eight preparing for the seasons beekeeping is a year- round Adventure so here's how to support your hive through the seasons summer care bees need water just like we do so make sure they have access to a water source on hot days check the hive isn't overheating and shade it if necessary Autumn prep it's wise to reduce the entrance to the hive to protect against robbers like wasps this also helps your bees defend their home more easily winter watch if you're in a cold area make sure your bees have plenty of Honey stored up for winter you might even need to wrap the hive or provide some form of heating to keep them snug and warm step nine harvesting honey here's the sweet part literally once your hive is strong and you've got that second box teaming with honey you can think about harvesting how to harvest use a be brush to gently brush bees off the frames or use a be es skateboard to clear the super you can extract honey using different methods depending on how much you have and what equipment you've got step 10 expanding your apiary feeling confident maybe it's time to expand your BM fire making more hives you can create new nukes from strong colonies to grow your apiary it's a great way to manage Hive sizes and keep swarming down selling nukes got more nukes than you need selling them can be a great way to fund your beekeeping hobby or even turn it into a little side business [Music] taking a nucleus Hive and growing it into a full-fledged colony is one of the most rewarding experiences you'll have as a beekeeper it's a chance to connect with nature learn heaps about bees and yes enjoy some homemade honey too remember each Hive has its own personality so stay flexible keep learning and have fun with it thanks for sticking with me if you have any questions or just want to share your beekeeping stories drop a comment below don't forget to hit like share and subscribe for more beekeeping Adventures until next time happy beekeeping

Channel: Hey Honey

Views: 4,095

Keywords: bee hive, nuc colony, nucleus colony, bees, bee keeping, honey, how to split a hive, bee swarm simulator, bee gees, queen excluder, nurse bees, dadant beekeeping, buying your first nuc, finding the queen bee in a nucleus colony, nucleus colony bees, my first nucleus, buying a nucleus colony of honey bees, installing nuc of beeslony, how to install a nucleus colony, double nucleus colony, bee hive diy! our very first hive set up and build!, what to see in your first inspection

Id: GTDigFdVckY

Length: 7min 39sec (459 seconds)

Published: Mon Apr 29 2024