The easiest poly nuc …

… does no longer exist.

There are some just right poly nucs, a couple of which can be cheap and a few shockers.

I personal or have used about 5 – 6 other designs. I now nearly completely use simply two – bought via Maisemore’s or Thorne’s – either one of which might be just right, however neither of which might be with regards to ‘absolute best’.

Within the obscure hope that anyone who designs and producers poly nucs reads this (not likely I do know, however “in case you are gonna dream, dream giant”) I assumed I might word the options I want to see in my ‘absolute best’ poly nuc.

Extra realistically, and similarly importantly, in case you are considering purchasing a number of poly nucs this season – and they’re very helpful – then those notes may lend a hand you make a decision what options are essential in your beekeeping, and subsequently mean you can spend your hard earned earnings {{1}} from honey gross sales properly.

The options I record – and justify – underneath are the ones I think are essential or fascinating for my beekeeping, so it is conceivable they may not fit you.

Alternatively, I do not believe there’s anything else in particular bizarre about the way in which I stay bees, so I believe the poly nuc I describe would almost certainly paintings OK for many beekeepers.

If it existed 😞.

Like a number of beekeeping apparatus, buying poly nucs comes to a vital outlay. Maximum are £50-80, or extra with feeders and ekes. You will have to be expecting them to closing a long time and to get a long time of use from them … in the event that they paintings as you want.

Makes use of for poly nucs

The 3 major makes use of I’ve for poly nucs are for swarm regulate, for purchasing queens mated, and for overwintering.

From time to time they are extensively utilized for retaining fine quality however growing old queens laying slightly longer. Or, seeking to … one in all my best possible outdated queens has simply did not make it in the course of the wintry weather. Not anything to do with the nuc she used to be in, however the whole lot to do with a difficult existence and the passage of time.

Take into account, nucs are too small to be efficient bait hives and nucs with separate flooring (see underneath) are a deficient selection when teetering on the most sensible of a ladder when seeking to seize a bivouacked swarm.

My queen rearing begins someday in Might (in maximum years), so I’ve nucs in use for no less than 11 months of the yr. That assumes I unload or advertise my overwintered nucs to complete hives in April, and that swarm regulate hasn’t began a lot prior to queen rearing (or vice versa).

My nucs get a number of use and I’ve no less than one to be had consistent with full-sized hive.

Nucs are almost certainly one of the crucial helpful and flexible items of apparatus and new beekeepers will have to believe purchasing one (or extra) early of their 2nd season.

Swarm regulate

It is value noting from the outset that the usage of a nuc for swarm regulate almost certainly makes the least calls for – in relation to ‘options’ – of the field. All you might be doing is housing the unique queen someplace secure, with enough bees and shops to stay her going, till the primary colony is requeened.

The nuc merely wishes to carry the considered necessary collection of frames (extra on that during a minute), to have a smallish front, so the smallish colony can shield itself, and to be weatherproof.

That isn’t an excessive amount of to invite, is it?

Until, after all, you additionally wish to deal with the queenright nucleus colony with oxalic acid … and extra on that in a while as effectively.

Nationwide, Langstroth, Smiths, Warré, Layens?

Until another way said, I’ll be speaking about poly nucs that accommodate Nationwide frames. For US readers, you will have to remember that those have lengthy lugs making them, a) slightly more uncomplicated to take care of, and b) slightly more uncomplicated to wreck.

My ‘absolute best’ poly nuc takes the frames I exploit for my bees. Like maximum UK beekeepers, I began with Nationals and – as a result of the preliminary outlay, innate meanness, inevitable inertia and the wish to periodically promote bees – have caught with them.

That does not imply that the options I might like to look in my absolute best poly nuc are depending on Nationwide frames, or for that subject, any body length. They are no longer. If the field is the proper dimensions for the frames getting used – and a few aren’t – I believe the options I record can be helpful in any nuc, without reference to the body length.

Compatibility

By way of compatibility, I imply the power to stack containers in combination in a bee-tight method. Normally additionally it is taken to imply the compatibility of 1 field with a other field … it might be a ludicrous if the containers weren’t self-compatible.

Traditionally, a Nationwide nucleus hive is precisely part the width of a Nationwide hive. You want to subsequently position two Nationwide nucs underneath the similar roof, over a brood field, and there are some chic queen rearing strategies that profit from this ‘two into one do move’ layout.

However … prefacing that paragraph with traditionally will have to had been a enough trace to signify that I am relating to containers constructed from cedar, no longer polystyrene.

Inevitably, as a result of the energy and stress of polystyrene, coupled with a necessity for just right insulation, poly containers have a lot thicker partitions. Because of this, they don’t seem to be well matched with cedar containers.

For different causes – see ‘rebates’ underneath – there could also be very little compatibility with complete length poly hives, even from the similar producer.

It will be great if other poly nucs had been well matched with each and every different … however they are no longer.

There could also be exceptions to those slightly sweeping statements however, in large part, I believe it is beside the point.

A poly nuc is basically used by itself.

Would a ‘usual’ poly nuc be fascinating?

In all probability … to everybody aside from the producers.

Do not hang your breath.

Measurement

In which I imply the collection of frames.

5 … or six.

For causes that can transform transparent in a while, I’ve a desire for six-framers. No matter, the inner dimensions of the poly nuc brood field will have to be enough to deal with 5 (or six) frames plus a dummy board.

You have to have area to split and take away the frames with out rolling the bees. Likewise, I need with the intention to squeeze are compatible a queen mobile between adjoining frames with out harmful it.

The Thorne’s Everynuc – a 5 body poly nuc – has the proper quantity of extra area in my opinion.

However, the inner period of the Thorne’s Everynuc is flawed. This can be a Langstroth-sized hive that has been tailored to take Nationwide frames via including an inner feeder.

As a result of the longer lugs on a Nationwide body , the bee area on the non-feeder finish of the Everynuc is totally flawed. The bees will do construct brace comb right here given the danger. It is fixable, however isn’t actually applicable on an £80 hive.

I will see the enchantment of designing a field to take a couple of body length. Alternatively, taking part in speedy and unfastened with the bee area inevitably ends up in frustration and additional paintings.

In case you intend to move Langstroth-size containers tailored to take Nationwide frames (via inclusion of an integral feeder at one finish) you may additionally wish to upload a ‘prevent’ to stop the frames sliding backward and forward.

Rebates

I believe that is the proper time period … the stepped interface between elements – ground/brood field or brood field/feeder/roof – that guarantees the whole lot suits in combination and does not slide about. I am satisfied sufficient to have them on a nuc, however abhor them on full-sized hives the place compatibility is essential.

All my poly nucs have rebates. All have other profiles. Their presence guarantees the containers are self-compatible, however do not are compatible the rest.

OK, now I have handled the generalities, what concerning the specifics?

Ground

The ground will have to be separate. I need the versatility to stack two brood containers in combination; for queen rearing the usage of the ‘changed Vorstman‘ manner or for uniting two nucs in combination. It will have to actually have a central open mesh house as conceivable, while holding structural stress. Each the Everynuc and Maisemore’s flooring are beautiful just right examples.

The Everynuc mesh is glued in position and will transform unstuck. A glue gun fixes it, however the screws Maisemore’s use are a greater answer.

The open mesh lets in hive particles – and mites – to fall via. Alternatively, I additionally desire a technique to track the mites that fall via, so I believe a detachable Varroa tray or board could also be essential.

Polystyrene Varroa trays get simply stained and wish to be painted prior to use. Alternatively, I see no explanation why it must be poly … I exploit a sheet of white Correx in all my full-sized hives and would be at liberty to have a nuc ground with aspect rails/runners/slots for a Correx board.

The ones of you who’ve learn my earlier publish on herbal mite drop will know that it isn’t actually a competent means of figuring out infestation ranges. Alternatively, the Varroa tray fulfils an similarly essential function in sealing the open mesh ground closed when vaporising oxalic acid.

There is a ‘window of alternative’ of four or 5 days period to regard mites in a broodless colony when the usage of the nucleus manner of swarm regulate.

You want to make up the nuc containing the queen in conjunction with a body of rising brood. This may increasingly all have emerged in ~3 days, effectively prior to any larvae from new eggs laid via the queen had been capped (9 days after making up the nuc). Within the period between the brood all rising and the brand new brood being capped all of the mites shall be phoretic … a really perfect alternative to regard with oxalic acid, will have to or not it’s wanted.

Toes and ‘skirts’

The ‘toes’ at the poly hive will have to be sufficiently big, and spaced accurately, to suit on a hive stand additionally housing different hives of the similar body length. Since Nationwide cedar containers – and a few poly Nationals – have a footprint of 46 cm (18″), the poly nuc toes will have to be spaced no additional aside than this. Some are too shut in combination.

I choose hives (and nucs) that take a seat flush at the hive stand in order that bees touchdown at the stand shouldn’t have the strategy to move slowly beneath by means of the distance between the stand and the entrance of the hive. I do not know whether or not the time period ‘skirt’ is right kind for this selection – possibly it will have to be – however the Everynuc ground is healthier on this regard (and within the spacing of the toes and the availability of an integral handhold underneath the touchdown board … and, whilst I am at it, within the length of the touchdown board).

Entrances

The doorway will have to be a part of the ground. It will have to be small, lower than 5 cm². My colonies within the bee shed all use an entrances which can be 2.5 cm in diameter (4.9 cm²) and those are robust colonies.

Even a well-populated nuc has a long way fewer bees than a complete hive. An ‘unbalanced’ nuc, just lately made up, would possibly not be capable of shield itself if the doorway is simply too massive.

The key failing of the Everynuc is the stupidly massive front.

What had been they pondering of?

An front this is an integral a part of the ground implies that the undertaker bees have much less lifting and wearing to do to transparent the corpses. It will imply that the beekeeper needs to be slightly extra vigilant right through extended chilly spells within the wintry weather, however it is a value I might be prepared to pay for the power to separate the nuc right into a 2 x 3 layout as described underneath.

Touchdown forums

I do not believe a touchdown board is wanted … however I love them.

On this example, the Everynuc has were given issues in large part right kind, with a modest touchdown board. By contrast, the touchdown board on one of the most Maisemore’s nucs is simply too massive and is blighted with ‘promoting’ (see the following matter) {{2}}.

Brood field

I choose a smooth-sided brood field. No handholds, no recesses, no fancy moulding and certainly no promoting in aid letters/brand at the facets.

Each Maisemore’s and Thorne’s promote poly nuc brood containers which can be like this.

I am not basically adverse to promoting {{3}}, however I actually resent the extra paintings eager about portray it.

I am basically adverse handy holds and recesses … the inclusion of those reduces the thickness of the poly partitions. No longer best are they pointless (simply carry the nuc via the ground), however in addition they scale back the insulation … that turns out to me to be totally counterproductive. Why make investments £75+ in a field this is much less effectively insulated than it will had been had it been higher designed?

The brood field will have to be the proper intensity for the frames in order that the proper bee area is maintained whilst you stack two brood containers in combination. Any field designed for Langstroth frames – which might be deeper than Nationwide frames – won’t give you the right kind bee area when stacked.

After all, stainless-steel body runners are a lot better than the straightforward raised poly lip that Maisemore’s use. Paradise hives use a inflexible plastic ledge which is commendably tough, however has an excessive amount of touch with the body lugs. The presence of body runners makes shifting frames in the field more uncomplicated, and prevents the bees propolising the whole lot in combination overwinter.

How thick will have to the brood field partitions be? A minimum of 3 and ideally 4 cm for my part. The extra, the merrier … is reasonably.

Crownboard

A sheet of transparent, skinny polycarbonate is completely adequate for my part. If there are higher choices I might like to listen to of them.

Roof

The roof must be no less than as thick because the partitions of the brood field.

The unique Paynes poly nuc (and in all probability the present providing) used to be notable for the huge melted patch on frosty mornings, the place the escaping heat from the colony used to be all too obtrusive.

No longer just right.

Once more, as with the brood field, a mushy end is preferable for ease of portray.

The Maisemore’s roofs have recesses for the toes of every other nuc stacked on most sensible. That is possibly helpful in garage, however I am not conscious about my different nucs that lack those recesses wandering off, so is it actually important? What am I lacking?

My nucs in garage are both stacked within the shed out of the wind, or stacked up outdoor strapped in combination and/or encumbered.

The one factor I am conscious those recesses do is accumulate rainwater …

I am not sure about whether or not the roof will have to have area beneath for a shallow feeder. I’ve some like this, however have by no means if truth be told used it … and I in most cases suppose that any useless area over the crownboard is unwanted. The Everynuc roofs are thick, are compatible flush to the crownboard and paintings really well.

Divide and triumph over

Prior to I am getting to the ‘extras’ (feeder and ekes) I wish to in brief speak about the power to divide the brood field into two.

I believe {that a} nuc with full-sized frames is in most cases a more sensible choice for queen mating and high quality regulate for many beekeepers.

Sure, they require extra ‘assets’ (bees, shops and comb) when atmosphere them up, however – in comparison to mini-nucs – they provide important benefits:

• it’s a lot much less effort to populate them (no shaking via a brood field for cupfuls of nurse bees {{4}} )
• they’re much higher ready to seem after themselves, with much less likelihood of being robbed, ravenous or absconding
• it’s simple to pass judgement on the standard – or no less than the laying skill – of the brand new queen as she has full-size frames to paintings with, as a substitute of a couple of sq. inches of comb

You’ll ‘dummy down’ a three body nuc – one in all shops, one in all rising bees and adhering bees, a body of drawn comb, a ‘shake’ of additional bees and a mature queen mobile – right into a 5 – 6 body nuc … or you’ll are compatible two of the ones into the similar footprint (with part the monetary outlay) the usage of a divider.

Some nucs – just like the Paradise hives bought via ModernBeekeeping– will also be divided into two with a skinny vertical department board to generate two 3-frame nucs.

To counterpoint this, the hive wishes two entrances. Those will have to be at reverse ends of the nuc. In the event that they had been on the identical finish, a queen returning to the ‘flawed’ front after a mating flight may just come to grief.

The ground described above, with a small integral front, offset to at least one aspect, and a brief touchdown board, would paintings effectively with a divider.

Issues of a central divider

The inclusion of the power to divide the nucleus hive longitudinally creates a couple of issues:

1. The divider provides width to the hive, possibly ~4 mm. As well as, each and every ‘part’ wishes enough more space that the frames will also be got rid of and returned with out rolling or crushing bees. A 6-frame nuc with area for a dummy board will have to simply be dividable into 2 x 3 body nucs (no dummy forums).
2. The brood field wishes a vertical slot in any case partitions to deal with the divider or raised ridges between which the divider suits. Of the 2, a slot is healthier as it’s much less more likely to mess with the bee area, or foul frames being returned to the field.
3. The design of the Correx or poly Varroa tray wishes cautious idea. The hive now not has a entrance or again, so possibly a easy slot at both finish – beneath the OMF – with longitudinal aspect ‘runners’, might be used?
4. Care is wanted the usage of this type of 2 x 3 setup to make certain that the queen does no longer go from one aspect to every other. No longer best will have to the divider be bee-tight, however the crownboard will have to additionally take a seat flush at the divider.
5. If the nuc is for use in 1 x 6 layout one of the crucial entrances must be sealed off. Taking into account the plethora of extra plugs, blocks and ventilators supplied with the Abelo poly hives this will have to no longer be past the wit of guy.

None of those problems are insurmountable.

The most obvious ‘further’ is a feeder that matches over the broodbox. The feeder must be as well-insulated as the remainder of the nuc. Since it is helpful to find a way of feeding both syrup or fondant, the Maisemore’s feeder is a superb design. This can be a Miller-type feeder with detachable dams.

With the dam in position, the bees will also be fed syrup. To feed fondant the dam is got rid of. For the reason that front to the feeder is central it makes no assumptions of the positioning of the cluster … and you need to even feed fondant and syrup concurrently, despite the fact that I am not certain why you could wish to.

A feeder overhead is preferable to the integral feeder within the Everynuc which could be a distance from the cluster and cooler in wintry weather.

The opposite ‘further’ I in finding helpful is an eke to transform the hive from usual frames to fourteen x 12 deep brood frames. I have purchased those for my Maisemore’s nucs, no longer as a result of I exploit 14 x 12’s, however for queen rearing the usage of the Hopkins manner.

This kind of eke could also be helpful to feed fondant (within the absence of a feeder).

After all, with appropriate changes (typically involving a drill and/or padsaw) an eke of this kind can be utilized to vaporise oxalic acid from above the colony. If the hive front is sufficiently small to be simple to shield it is usually going to be too small to deal with a vaporiser.

Production restrictions

I do know lower than not anything concerning the restrictions or barriers of the moulding procedure used to fabricate poly nucs. In all probability all that aid promoting textual content decorating the lid or touchdown board aids unencumber of the hive from the mildew?

Possibly it isn’t conceivable to create slots during which a Correx Varroa board might be fitted?

I do know that mold manufacturing is pricey, and is the reason why the poly nucs lately to be had in most cases stay unchanged for years. I purchased ~20 Everynucs a few decade in the past and so they glance just like the fashion bought nowadays.

However, new designs do seem periodically. I have were given too many now to believe purchasing extra (almost certainly 😉), however no less than I have were given a sexy truthful concept of what options I might wish to see prior to I opted to ‘splash the money’.

If you’re pondering of treating your self this Spring, I’m hoping those rambling ideas mean you can make the precise selection … as a result of, if you’re making a smart selection, you’ll be able to nonetheless be the usage of the nuc in 30 years time.

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{{1}}: Or, as I time period them, ‘attainable long run earnings’.

{{2}}: No the bees wouldn’t have the extra ‘grip’ it supplies … it is promoting.

{{3}}: Smartly, possibly I’m?

{{4}}: Inevitably a role that needs to be carried out on a rainy afternoon.