The nuc’s were sold by Weald Farm Bees as being 6 frames headed by laying queens at a cost of £190 each to a novice.
Nucleus 1
i. A 4 frame nuc at best.
ii. Queenless, no sign of eggs and few sealed cells.
iii. Queen cells present (4/5) but in my opinion extremely poor ones.
iv. Very old frames, some being Hoffman and others on Yorkshire spacers. One frame even has Gales name branded on the top bar and how long ago is it since they kept bees?
v. Old combs, extremely black and probably quite a few years old and should have been replaced long ago.
vi. The other two frames are new but foundation only and as yet not drawn out.
vii. Very little pollen,
viii. Honey stores very low though George was advised to feed the nuc’s.
Nucleus 2
A stronger and marginally better colony than 1 but still inadequate.
i. A 4 frame nuc at best.
ii. Brood at all stages.
iii. Queen not seen but eggs present, certainly not marked.
iv. Very old frames, some being Hoffman and others on Yorkshire spacers.
vi. Very old combs, again very black and should have been replaced long ago.
vii. Again as Nuc 1 the other two frames are new but foundation only and as yet not drawn out.
viii. Pollen levels low.
ix. Stores OK.
Perhaps you would be well advised to avoid this company
