Quality Characteristics – Part 4
You are paying a lot of money for your nuc and you should have a quality nuc in return! The spectrum of quality control varies from none to excellence.
Let’s start with what a quality nuc looks like. First, the nuc has matured for 4 weeks plus. This allows the hive to accept the queen and ensure she has three stages of brood: egg, larva, and capped brood. All three will be evident on inspection. If you see ONLY capped brood, that is NOT a good sign—it likely means a queen was just recently inserted into brood taken from other hives.
The queen should be at least 9 weeks old and properly mated to produce an abundance of brood. The nuc should be full of bees, typically between 5,000 to 8,000 per box.
The Inspection Standard
A reputable seller should allow you to inspect your nuc the evening before pick-up. This is the time to look for Small Hive Beetles (25 or less is acceptable, though none is best) and check for excessive dead bees. A few are normal, but over 25 is a concern.
At Nigel Bees Co., we believe a 4 to 6 week quality control report should be the industry standard. It gives you insight into the written development of your nuc. Finally, ensure the nuc box itself is clean, dry, and free of holes. If you do not like what you are seeing, ask for another nuc!
Tomorrow’s subject will be wholesale vs. retail sales of nucs. If you have any questions, please drop us an e-mail!