Package's vs overwintered nucs.

[Curly green finger's]

Morning, Im already thinking of next year and what are your opinions on packages vs nucs in early spring?
Thanks.
Mark.

 

[Patrick1]

Firstly, packages will be difficult to get again next year unless we see a change in the ridicules legislation that we have had to work with this year.
The facts are that packages come with less problems in terms of disease and are inspected by SBI, however they are seldom produced in the UK.
Over wintered nucs would be a good option, local bees or at least UK reared, the drawback is disease and temperament. Generally they are only inspected by the producer.
Best option in my opinion is to produce your own nuc and rear queens, it’s no difficult.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Make your own Mark. I don’t know how things work in the commercial world but wouldn’t self sufficiency be the backbone?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Firstly, packages will be difficult to get again next year unless we see a change in the ridicules legislation that we have had to work with this year.
The facts are that packages come with less problems in terms of disease and are inspected by SBI, however they are seldom produced in the UK.
Over wintered nucs would be a good option, local bees or at least UK reared, the drawback is disease and temperament. Generally they are only inspected by the producer.
Best option in my opinion is to produce your own nuc and rear queens, it’s no difficult.

How’s that going Patrick?

 

[madasafish]

I sell a few overwintered nucs. My customers so far (tough wood) have had no problems. But Early May time.

I suspect packages will start earlier and build up quicker.

Disease? I have heard of UK beekeepers selling overwintered hives at auction with AFB. Not heard of issues with imports.

 

[Curly green finger's]

I suspect packages will start earlier and build up quicker.

Disease? I have heard of UK beekeepers selling overwintered hives at auction with AFB. Not heard of issues with imports.
[/QUOTE]
I've been told they will work harder than a nuc
If I was going to buy packages I would source a UK seller and one does spring to mind.

 

[Erichalfbee]

How’s that going Patrick?

Anyway, you are not the only one making waves. Somebody else is sticking his neck publicly over the parapet. And that too might do us all a huge favour

 

[Curly green finger's]

Anyway, you are not the only one making waves. Somebody else is sticking his neck publicly over the parapet. And that too might do us all a huge favour

Who?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Ah now all you have to do is have a good look around

 

[Curly green finger's]

Ah now all you have to do is have a good look around

Don't have time

 

[Curly green finger's]

Firstly, packages will be difficult to get again next year unless we see a change in the ridicules legislation that we have had to work with this year.
The facts are that packages come with less problems in terms of disease and are inspected by SBI, however they are seldom produced in the UK.
Over wintered nucs would be a good option, local bees or at least UK reared, the drawback is disease and temperament. Generally they are only inspected by the producer.
Best option in my opinion is to produce your own nuc and rear queens, it’s no difficult.

I got offered packages from someone in this country this spring.
I grant you we need more people doing it..... I would only buy from the UK any way

 

[Erichalfbee]

I got offered packages from someone in this country this spring.
I grant you we need more people doing it..... I would only buy from the UK any way

But where did the queens come from?

 

[Curly green finger's]

UK

 

[madasafish]

UK

And they were possibly bred from imported Queens.

The UK to Beekeeping is rather like China to democracy - it knows what to do and how to do but does not act.

 

[Curly green finger's]

And they were possibly bred from imported Queens.

The UK to Beekeeping is rather like China to democracy - it knows what to do and how to do but does not act.

I can't comment but I'm going to find out!! I don't think they are imported queen's, I think that would f up any Mating unless they were miles away. funny that comment madasafish.

 

[Erichalfbee]

UK

Who has current year spring mated queens in the U.K.?

 

[Curly green finger's]

..... I'll clarify that later! Got to go out and feed

 

[madasafish]

Who has current year spring mated queens in the U.K.?

I have a folder full of Q suppliers.

Last I looked:
Becky's Bees
BS
Sipa
Yorkshire Honey
and loads more.

But changes regularly

 

[Hebeegeebee]

You can make your own nucs - no need to buy in. For local spring nucs - overwintered ones sell quickly and mine are spoken for by the end of Feb. There should be no need for concern about disease and a decent overwintered nuc will, quite possibly, get some honey in the year. The weather is not ideal for early queens and this year has been particularly rubbish so spring/summer nucs have been very late.

 

[Curly green finger's]

You can make your own nucs - no need to buy in. For local spring nucs - overwintered ones sell quickly and mine are spoken for by the end of Feb. There should be no need for concern about disease and a decent overwintered nuc will, quite possibly, get some honey in the year. The weather is not ideal for early queens and this year has been particularly rubbish so spring/summer nucs have been very late.

Well I'm not experienced enough to say any difference. But I'm leaving my production hives as is and I'm splitting alot into nucs the more nucs I can produce now is going to be cheaper for mein the spring.
To talk of something else but still bee related.
(Day 8 kieler) and they are drawing the third top bar out and I have polished cells queens look bigger than when I saw them last as virgins and they look lovely.
Very brittle and soft the comb not good to tilt them to much.
These are my Amm girls and queen's.