How to Install a Nuc (Nucleus Colony)

In this lesson you will learn how to install a 5 frame nuc into your hive.

You will learn how to set up your hive and transfer frames from a nuc into your hive. You will also learn what to look for in a nuc and see a nuc up close frame by frame as it is installed into a hive.

This video is part of a series comparing a package of bees vs a nuc, so please subscribe and follow along to see how they compare.

If you are interested in becoming a beekeeper this is a great place to start learning. This lesson is part of our complete series, Introduction to Beekeeping. If you are interested in enrolling in this complete course please visit the link below:

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Thank you for watching and we hope you will subscribe and continue to watch our videos and learn to raise happy, healthy, honey-making bees!

Matthew Doucette
NewBee University

[patcummins]

Great video and very helpful as I’m picking up my first nuc tomorrow morning. As you probably gathered I’m new to bee keeping. I’m in Australia and we’re into a pretty hot summer already.

[lizzyann]

I watched a video last night of two people doing the exact same thing. Those bees were flying everywhere and seemed very upset. Good job keeping your bees calm.

[MrCaneast]

I'm installing 3 nucs today after a bad winter. Thank you for the good instructions. I didn't want to miss anything. I think giving each some syrup would give them a good start.

[colinhorn]

Really useful video thanks, am waiting for my NUC to arrive late April, most surprising thing to me was how docile the bees were.

[camilojames]

Hey guys thanks for the videos, very helpful

[selbar]

I understand that when installing a nuc you keep them in same sequence however i noticed you flipped the frames around when transferring. So as long as the frames are in same order the side of the frame doesnt matter. Newbee question sorry.

[rogeremeadows]

Excellent video. Am starting my first hive soon. Do jean pants protect a person enough to get by not ordering a full suit?

[fybyxpn]

What is the foundation he talks about?

[josephvogel]

I'm afraid that I have to call this video a failure. It is directed toward a first-time beekeeper, so they need to be told what to do with the NUC prior to putting the frames into the deep. The frames normally are installed in the same orientation in the super as they were in the NUC. When and how to feed and water source needs to be addressed.

[TatyanaFey]

I used your other video for successfully installing a new package of bees. I noticed on both videos that you have an indent on the side of your hives inner cover. Judging by the size of the opening, it looks like a second entrance into the hive, which can be used or closed by the way one slides the outer cover. Is my assumption correct, or it is made just for ventilation (or it's both)? I am a novice, but as I understand it is a good idea to have two entrances to the hive, even just one of them is used from time to time. Thank you.

[swannest]

Interesting that you don’t feed sugar syrup and pollen patties to your Nucs. I was taught by the local BeeKeepers Club to feed the Nucs until they are producing honey because the foraging in our Colorado Spring is often poor.

[nicollerobleto]

If I purchased a nuc in a cardboard box, will the bees still be on frames inside of it? if not, whats the based way to install?

[davidsoloninka]

What are one or two positive points pertaining to a "package"...( I understand the positive points regarding a Nuc) Thx

[robertclymer]

Hello, so what you are saying is, a Nuc is just a transfer from one hive to another? And you are assuming we know this terminology you are using, sorry I do not. Where can I find a list and explanation for these terms please?

[badassbees]

Yeah I don't want 4 frame Nuc with "growing frame" bs .I don't want to see a Caged Queen, I don't want no old black propolized shut cells frame, I don't want em dumping their Old crapped out Queen on me, I don't want poor population oh they'll be ok when brood hatches, I WANT New Queen that made Those bees with a good population and decent drawn comb, three frames brood 1 pollen and 1 honey, I'd prefer brood and bees and light on pollen and honey over poor population and not much brood.Oh and I prefer by end of April, not Mid or late May when done missed whole brood cycle and any chance of splitting again or getting any honey..Did I miss anything? I don't wanna buy from non beekeepers and I don't wanna pay overwintered price for a nuc probably made up last week or any other Dirty trick ALOT of beekeepers pull these days sadly lol BTW Good Video 😂😂😂

[cornerstonehoneybees]

I was about to recommend this video - until you talked about breaking up the brood nest with blank frames. That is a bad, bad, HORRID thing to do. Especially when talking to new beekeepers.