Mating Nucs

[nantmoel]

Manlake have an offer on their Mini Mating Nuc with Frames, has anyone here used them?

 

[B+.]

Manlake have an offer on their Mini Mating Nuc with Frames, has anyone here used them?

They are 1/2 Langstroth size so they probably wouldn't fit your Nationals very well.

 

[nantmoel]

Not the 1/2 Langstroth size ones, they have mini ones for sale.

 

[B+.]

Not the 1/2 Langstroth size ones, they have mini ones for sale.

OIC... thats a good price!
I used something very similar to it a long time ago. It does the job. The only thing you will have to watch for is that they'll run out of space.

 

[misterbee82]

The mating only occurs with a virgin queen, if you have a virgin queen she'll fly and mate with multiple drones, otherwise if she is an established queen she'll remain in the hive doing egg laying and not fly or mate, as she is already mated and fertile.

 

[B+.]

if she is an established queen she'll remain in the hive doing egg laying and not fly or mate, as she is already mated and fertile.

Obviously

 

[Eyeman]

Hi
Here's one of Mann Lakes mating nucs. Great value at under £8
I modify them by making an inner cover out of a plastic sheet, cut a hole in it for introducing the QC and keep in place with 2 elastic bands.
I also use them as temporary storage for MATED queens. Before popping the mated queen in a mating nuc that has been made up with bees from a different hive I find it helpful to let the nuc get used to her smell. Pop the queen cage against the front ventilation grill then put the roof on and the cage is secure. Leave for 2 hours and if you haven't got the usual queenless roar then its safe to pop her in.