Using a Pro Nuc Bee Box for Swarms plus Splits
If you're searching to expand your apiary, obtaining a pro nuc bee box is probably a single of the wisest moves you may make right now. I recall my first couple of years of beekeeping, lugging around weighty wooden nucs that were awkward, prone to rotting, plus honestly, just a pain to secure in the back again of a truck. As soon as I switched over to these specific plastic boxes, lots of those little head aches just disappeared.
It's not just about the weight, though that's a huge plus. It's regarding how these issues are designed specifically with regard to the way bees (and beekeepers) actually move through a season. Whether you're catching a swarm, creating a split to prevent your main beehive from bolting, or just transporting a little colony to a friend, these containers are built for the job.
Precisely why Plastic Actually Works intended for Bees
Some folks are purists and think almost everything in the bee world should be made of planks or pine. We get it, wooden looks classic. But when you're dealing with a pro nuc bee box , you realize pretty quickly that high-density plastic has several massive advantages. Very first off, it's virtually indestructible. You may leave it away in the rain, fall it off the tailgate, or collection ten of these within a shed for 3 years, and they'll look exactly the same.
The insulation factor is usually another thing people be worried about with plastic material, require boxes are surprisingly good at regulating temperature regarding short-term use. The walls are heavy enough to maintain a small colony comfortable, and because the fit is therefore tight, you don't get those frustrating drafts that can relax a small group of bees at the begining of spring. Plus, the green color mixes in well with all the landscape, which is definitely nice if you're seeking to keep your bee yard looking low-key.
Ventilation Is the Secret Sauce
In the event that you've ever carried bees in the wooden nuc on a hot This summer day, you know the particular anxiety of thinking if they're suffocating in there. The particular pro nuc bee box resolves this with a few of the best ventilation I've seen on a portable unit. It has these built-in vents that allow for massive airflow with no letting the bees escape.
The design usually includes a screened area that you can open or even close depending upon what you're carrying out. If you're simply moving them across the yard, you may leave it mainly shut. But if they're going to be in the rear of a truck for an hour-long travel, you can open those vents up and rest easy understanding your bees aren't going to overheat and melt their personal comb. It's the literal lifesaver for the bees.
Catching Swarms With no Hassle
There is nothing quite like the adrenaline rush associated with a swarm call. You get the particular message, you get your gear, and also you race out to a neighbor's apple tree. This is definitely where the pro nuc bee box really excels. Because it's therefore lightweight, you may hold it with one hand while you're standing on a step ladder, which is a lot more secure than trying in order to balance great wooden box.
The particular lid on these types of boxes can also be a total win. This snaps on safely. You don't have to fumble around with bricks or duct tape while bees are buzzing all around your head. As soon as you shake that will swarm into the box, you just put the lid, plus you'll hear that satisfying click . It stays put. I've even seen men use an easy ratchet strap by means of the molded grooves in the box to make it rock-solid for the trip home.
Making Splits Simpler on Your Back again
When spring rolls around and your strongest hives start to look the bit crowded, it's time to create splits. Using a pro nuc bee box for this is just efficient. You pull the couple of structures of brood, the frame of baby, and some shaken bees, and you've got a new colony began.
The particular box fits five standard deep frames perfectly. There's no rattling around, plus the bees sense snug, which is specifically what a small colony needs to get established. Considering that it's a fervent nuc box, you aren't wasting a full-sized 10-frame setup upon a tiny bunch of bees. It helps them keep the heat in much better, meaning the particular queen can begin lounging faster as well as the family will develop more reliably.
Carrying Bees and Stacking
One associated with the most underrated features of the particular pro nuc bee box is usually the way this stacks. If you're a commercial man or just the hobbyist with a wide range of "bee math" issues, you're often moving multiple nucs at the same time. These boxes have little feet plus recesses that permit them to lock in to each other.
They don't slide around in the bed associated with a truck like wooden boxes perform. This might seem like a small detail until you're taking a sharp turn and you listen to your precious shipment shifting in the particular back. Using these, these people stay put. Also, the entrances are usually easy to change. You can set this to "closed" intended for transport, "vented" with regard to air, or "open" once you get them to their new home. It's most integrated, so a person aren't looking for little components of foam or screen in order to stuff within the entrance.
Cleaning Up After a Season
Let's talk about the gross part of beekeeping: propolis and wax moth cocoons. Cleaning a wooden nuc that's been sitting within the weeds is a chore. You're scratching, you're flaming, and you're still unsure if you obtained all the gunk out.
With a pro nuc bee box , a person can basically just hit it with a pressure washing machine. Since it's plastic, you can make use of a mild whiten treatment for sanitize this if you're concerned about disease, and it won't harm the material at all. It dries in minutes. Being capable to start the particular next season having a clean, sterile box is a huge weight off our mind. It's simply one less adjustable to worry approximately when you're trying to keep your bees healthy.
Is It Worth the particular Investment?
You might consider the price of a pro nuc bee box and evaluate it to a cheap cardboard nuc or perhaps a DIY wood one and wonder if it's worthy of the extra several bucks. In our experience, the answer is the hard yes. Cardboard boxes is fine to have an one-way trip whenever you're selling bees, but it falls apart the second it gets wet. Wood is great, yet it's heavy and eventually rots.
These plastic boxes last for many years. If you think about the particular cost over the 10 years, they're actually way cheaper than every other option. Plus, the particular convenience factor is usually through the roof. When I'm within the middle of a busy bee season, I don't want to be fixing broken boxes or worrying about whether the lid will probably travel off on the road. I want gear that will just works, which box definitely drops into that type.
A Few Techniques for New Users
If you're just getting your own first pro nuc bee box , here's a little pro tip: don't forget to check the entry disc or slider prior to leaving the backyard. I've seen people think they've closed the bees in, only to realize one particular of the aspect vents was nevertheless slightly ajar.
Also, despite the fact that they stack properly, I still prefer to put an one strap around a stack of these in the event that I'm going on the particular freeway. It's most likely overkill, however it provides me peace of mind. And finally, when you aren't with them, stack them upside down. It keeps spiders and mice through making a house inside while they're sitting in your garage or barn.
At the end associated with the day, beekeeping is hard enough since it is. There are many things that can go wrong—mites, weather, bears—so you might simply because well use tools that makes your own life easier. These boxes are a simple, effective answer for some of the most common tasks we do because keepers. Once you use one, a person probably won't would like to go back to the old method.