Nucleus colonies of bees- or ‘Nucs’, are smaller off-shoots of a larger hive or colony. You may also use a Nuc to house a new swarm of bees. The focus of a Nuc hive is the queen- and bees usually stay in the Nuc for a couple of weeks before it becomes full.
A Nuc is smaller than a typical hive, with only around four frames of bees, including the queen, brood, food, and honey. The queen of the Nuc must be an established, egg-laying queen for the Nuc to thrive and be successful.
So, how long can bees stay in a Nuc? Keep reading to find out more!
Contents
The Nucleus Colony
A Nucleus Colony is a small and cozy variation on a hive. In fact, you could consider a Nuc to be its own small functioning beehive as long as it contains all of the elements needed in a hive- a productive and egg-laying queen, plenty of bees, brood, food for the bees, and honey reserves.
The honey will also serve to feed bees that are unable to forage or that are in a closed Nuc- but more on that later.
A Nuc is distinguished from a hive by its size and the number of frames that are contained inside. A Nuc typically has around four or five frames of bees- much less than a typical hive.
There are pros and cons to keeping bees in a Nuc rather than in a hive. The size of a Nuc colony make it easier to tend and protect, but it can also cause swarming and curb the colony’s growth and prosperity.
Purpose of a Nuc
There are several different purposes for Nucs. In some instances, it is used as a miniature version of a regular hive or traditional brood box. There are only five- or less- frames, so you are working with a lot less bees, too!
As there are fewer bees in a Nuc, it is far easier to control the conditions of the hive and protect the colony from things like cold weather or lack of resources. You may use a Nuc when you want to split a larger hive or colony to prevent swarming.
Swarming occurs when hives become too full. By removing the queen cells and transferring them to a smaller Nuc, you are beginning the next colony of bees.
You may also choose to use a Nuc when you buy or sell bees. Many vendors box bees in cardboard for buyers- which is not sturdy or practical.
Transporting bees in cardboard is not secure or safe- for you or the bees! A Nuc makes it an easier transition. Nucs also work for separating queens and when you are mating your bees.
Bees and Nucs
So, the question is how long can bees stay in a Nuc? It depends on the type of Nuc that you are using- either an open Nuc or a closed Nuc. Here is what you need to know to keep your bees safe:
Open Nuc
An open Nuc is one that bees can fly in and out of at will. Typically, bees stay for a few weeks until the comb has been drawn out. The precise length of time this takes depends on a few factors:
- Purpose of the Nuc
- Weather
- Temperatures
- Strength and health of the colony
- Productivity of the queen bee
Remember that you are creating a smaller, possibly vulnerable colony away from the larger hive, which could put it at risk of threat or attack from other hives and larger colonies- be wary and watch for signs of any threats to your Nuc.
Closed Nuc
Close the Nuc box when you are transporting or transferring your colony to keep them safe. It is considered to be quite a dangerous practice to close the box, but if you must, only keep the Nuc closed for a few hours at most.
Make sure to feed honeybees that are being transported in a closed Nuc, as they can be susceptible and fall victim to starvation very quickly.
Nuc Tips
If you are going to tend or keep bees, you will use Nucs. How will you transport your first swarm- or what if you decide to sell a queen? The safest and most secure way to transport your bees is going to be in a Nuc. It is that simple!
It is important to not leave bees too long in a Nuc as they fill up quickly. For example, bees can stay in a standard five-frame nuc box between two to three weeks before you need to split or start a new Nuc.
As for closed Nucs, you should never leave bees in a closed Nuc for any length of time or you risk the life of the bees. Consider a Nuc to be a temporary home for your bees.
It also provides you with a way to catch and keep bees before moving them to a new and more permanent habitat.
Nuc FAQs
Still got questions regarding a Nuc? Here are a few of the most common ones regarding bees and Nucs:
What is a Nuc?
A Nuc is a smaller version of a hive that contains a queen, brood, bees, food, and honey. There are two types of Nucs, open and closed, which both serve different and distinct purposes.
Do you need a Nuc to start a hive?
It is a prudent idea to use a Nuc when transporting or transferring bees or a swarm to a hive. These are very handy for splitting hives to catching a swarm. Most beekeepers have several Nucs available.
Why should you use a Nuc?
A Nuc, or Nucleus Colony, is smaller than a traditional colony, so it gives you more time and attention for the bees. It is easier to maintain and defend than a larger hive, and it also helps when transporting bees from one spot to another.
What can you do to help bees?
The best thing that you can do to help bees is to not use poisonous chemicals, insecticides, or pesticides on your property. Also, consider planting bee-friendly crops like sunflowers, marigolds, mint, lilacs, and lavender, to help them when they forage for nectar to produce honey.
Use these tips for your own Nuc when splitting a hive or housing a new swarm. Make sure that you have a well-established queen for your Nuc- as well as plenty of worker bees, brood, honey, and food for the bees in the colony.
Know that an open Nuc will become full and need to be split or emptied within a few weeks. Be careful leaving bees in a closed Nuc for any length of time- a few hours at most- and supervise carefully.
