Wax vs. Plastic Foundation – Part 3
The foundation is VERY important to both the hobby and commercial beekeepers. I will say neither way is "better," but this blog will allow you insight into what happens from the start of a nuc.
Wax foundation is probably the highest standard and most expensive way of utilizing foundation in a nuc. However, it comes with challenges. Bees can and will reject the wax and build burr comb, which is totally unacceptable for a nuc and can delay maturity for weeks. Rejection can be caused by "old" wax, impurities, or chemicals. I have even seen bees leave the hive due to poor quality wax foundation. This costs $$$!
Furthermore, you must support wax foundation with wire or pins until the comb is firmly attached to all four sides of the frame, adding to the cost of your nuc.
The second type is plastic foundation, which is either wax-coated or non-coated. At Nigel Bees Co., we coat the plastic foundation with fresh wax. The bees seem to draw out the comb within days.
The Benefit of Black Foundation
I personally like black foundation because it allows a quick look during the quality control period to see eggs, larva, and capped brood in a rapid fashion. We use plastic foundation in our nucs.
In closing, I want to talk about the picture above. This is a nuc frame that has black plastic foundation that was “pre-waxed.” This frame is approx. four weeks into the nuc season. You will see the comb is white. The frame is all white except for the bottom left corner where you see “yellowing” from the pollen being brought into the hive.
Tomorrow we will discuss what a good quality nuc should look like. If you have any questions on today’s subject, please write us!