Two NUCS - Better from different sources?

[BeeJuice]

I'm new. So I'd like to start by saying hello.

I'm not yet a beekeeper as I don't currently have any bees - I'm at the planning stage. I'm booked on a course, have ordered some equipment and have put down a deposit on a nuc and watch every thing i can that's bee related on youtube..

I read that it can be beneficial to have two hives as that will allow me to compare progress and restock if necessary.

My question is whether it is better to buy both nucs from the same place or might there be advantages in having nucs from different suppliers?

Thank you in advance for any comments on this. (Hopefully this hasn't been covered 1000 times already - I did search)

 

[For want of a better word]

The advice I give our new beekeepers here in the GreatgreygreengreasyTamar rivervalleyallsetaboutwithsocialhousing... is to start with locally bred bees that are best suited to out sub tropical and occasionally cold temperate maritime climate.
Not something that comes from far away of doubtful origins!

Ask around the folk in your local association / beekeeping club.

You may find a couple of nucs or even full ready to go colonies.. that could even give you a honey crop next season... and a a smaller price than the Spring package suppliers!

Good luck with you beekeeping...... although sometimes I wish I had chosen bog snorkeling as a hobby!

Yeghes da

 

[masterBK]

Depending in which part of staffordshire you are

South Staffs BKA website : http://southstaffsbeekeepers.co.uk
Contact email for south staffs BKA : [email protected]

Burton on trent beekeepers contact : web site http://burtonbka.weebly.com/
Burton BKA Secretary : David Coates 01283 713603

North Staffs beekeepers website : http://northstaffsbees.org.uk/
contact email : [email protected]

 

[Chris B]

... is to start with locally bred bees

Yes of course - IF you can find somebody who actually breeds them (i.e. from their best stock) rather than just propagates them by splitting their swarmiest (worst) stock. Locally bred is good. Locally propagated is often way less suitable than bees from a good breeder ANYWHERE is the country.

 

[B+.]

Yes of course - IF you can find somebody who actually breeds them (i.e. from their best stock) rather than just propagates them by splitting their swarmiest (worst) stock. Locally bred is good. Locally propagated is often way less suitable than bees from a good breeder ANYWHERE is the country.

Most queen raisers don't put the work into assessing their stock properly. Even assuming that a good queen is chosen as the mother, virgins are open mated and any good traits are subject to heritability and the quality of any drones they find as mates.
The only way to avoid this in this country is to buy instrumentally inseminated queens which are much more expensive. This is well beyond what a beginner should consider

 

[BeeJuice]

Thank you for the comments and advice. I have now joined the nothing staffs branch. I will make contact with them and ask who might have a colony for sale. Much appreciated.

 

[REDWOOD]

comparing two colonies from the same supplier can be completely different unless the the queens are mated in a mating station or artificially inseminated. All my colonies have different characteristics, some I like and some I don't
just make sure you get them from a reputable supplier or beekeeper

 

[BeeJuice]

I have now joined the nothing staffs branch.

Damn autocorrect... that should read north staffs not nothing staffs

I got up to page 79 of Ted Hooper's Bees & Honey book - there he gives the exact same advice as the forum.

Cheers

 

[sbisme]

Hi BeeJuice don't forget two colonies could easy become 4 by the end of next year so make sure you get enough equipment, I started last year with 1 colony, by the end of this season I had three due to collecting a swarm and an AF of my own. Good Luck and I see you are local to me.

 

[DaveS]

Personally I would start off with one and increase your stock over time - cheaper and it gives you the experience and satisfaction of creating your own colony. 2 nucs will very quickly turn into 4 and then....

Otherwise try and buy local. Get recommendations - I would chose from different sources but the bees from one supplier can be very different.

 

[Finman]

.
When you buy nucs, they are what they are. Later those hives rear new queens. Queens mate in surrounding where countless number of beehives allready. They hardly mate with your own drones.

When you start now, calm bees are good, because you do not need to be afraid of stings. Origin of nucs is not yet essential.

 

[YorkshireBees]

Hi BeeJuice don't forget two colonies could easy become 4 by the end of next year so make sure you get enough equipment, I started last year with 1 colony, by the end of this season I had three due to collecting a swarm and an AF of my own. Good Luck and I see you are local to me.

Be careful when using acronyms, I think you probably mean AS (Artificial Swarm) ??

 

[YorkshireBees]

Personally I would start off with one and increase your stock over time - cheaper and it gives you the experience and satisfaction of creating your own colony. 2 nucs will very quickly turn into 4 and then....

Otherwise try and buy local. Get recommendations - I would chose from different sources but the bees from one supplier can be very different.

Not necessarily. There are well published ways of keeping bees without doubling your hive numbers all the time, otherwise I would have long ago been in trouble.

I only increased from 12 to 15 this year and at no point did I double up and then combine.

I will not argue with the fact it may be a cheaper route but the safety of having a 2nd colony to be able to donate a frame of eggs or BIAS from can sometimes save the 1st colony.

 

[Finman]

Not necessarily. There are well published ways of keeping bees without doubling your hive numbers all the time, otherwise I would have long ago been in trouble.

I only increased from 12 to 15 this year and at no point did I double up and then combine.

I will not argue with the fact it may be a cheaper route but the safety of having a 2nd colony to be able to donate a frame of eggs or BIAS from can sometimes save the 1st colony.

He is just starting. Just buying 2 nucs. Do not make it more difficult than it is.

 

[beebot]

Yes of course - IF you can find somebody who actually breeds them (i.e. from their best stock) rather than just propagates them by splitting their swarmiest (worst) stock. Locally bred is good. Locally propagated is often way less suitable than bees from a good breeder ANYWHERE is the country.

So true. Local bees can be a real problem - it seems to depend on where you are. If your locals are rubbish get them from somewhere else.
You need to think about where you want to end up - how many colonies how quickly. If you have a good apiary site with good bees it is very easy to split a hive in spring and if necessary requeening so saving allot of money. If money is no object them I would buy two - don't think it matters if from the same or different supplier as long as they are from good suppliers. If you need to you can always put another order in for a nuc this time next year.
Try to get an experience beek to take you under their wing - there is only a certain amount you can learn from book - what you need if often not in books.
Good luck.

 

[YorkshireBees]

He is just starting. Just buying 2 nucs. Do not make it more difficult than it is.

I'm not making it difficult at all. Just pointing out there are different options and doubling of colonies due to artificial swarms is NOT the only path.

Also it is a common mistake / problem that is encountered by beginners when they only have 1 colony and need, for example a test frame!

I started with 6 colonies (long story) but besides making mistakes I feel that I learnt a lot more in a shorter space of time by being able to observe and compare colonies next to each other.

 

[BeeJuice]

don't forget two colonies could easy become 4.......I see you are local to me.

Shaun, maybe you could be my source of local bees if you are selling any? I live just outside of Eccleshall.

I was intending to get two hives so that I can compare and contrast. Plus I'll still have one If the other hive has issues. A local bee keeper I know has twice had his bees (one and only hive) wiped out by wasps.

I've ordered a nuc from Honeyfields to collect next spring. I'd also like to find a colony from somewhere local so I'm up and running quickly. And yes, I can foresee how the numbers can quickly escalate.

I'll be attending local association meetings from next month and I'm prepared to change course if the advice is contrary to what I have in mind.

Thanks for all the advice

 

[sbisme]

Be careful when using acronyms, I think you probably mean AS (Artificial Swarm) ??

Correct slip of the finger