MINI NUC - How to Build

[@dcsblessedbees]

Thanks for sharing how you are making them.👍

[@bennybeekeeper]

Glad you like them!

[@homerspringfarms4653]

Awesome job❤

[@bennybeekeeper]

Thanks 😄

[@tf5926]

Great video!🙂

[@bennybeekeeper]

Thanks! 😊

[@phillipriggs3375]

Great to imagine how to use these same ways to build other size hives bigger foam and sticks.

[@bennybeekeeper]

I have made some larger ones but have not established bees in them yet. There would be a limit to how much weight the polystyrene can carry.

[@grantjackson3951]

Great video

[@bennybeekeeper]

Thanks!

[@markoc8616]

This paint you use is it a oil base paint ? Great Video economical and I have some boxes at the moment just the idea amazing thanks.

[@bennybeekeeper]

Water based acrylic

[@jasonrasheed7670]

Top video. Thanks so much. Very clever.

[@bennybeekeeper]

Thanks 👍

[@Mermar431]

Gran vídeo!!! Muchas gracias

[@bennybeekeeper]

Thanks

[@LeisyBee1]

Looks awesome, when the colony is strong enough, what sort of hive do you upgrade them to? A full-size Nuc?

[@bennybeekeeper]

I don’t have plans to upgrade them to a langstroth type of hive. I will have a go at overwintering these as six frames. I also have a bigger version that is 14 frames which I can overwinter. Then in the spring I will be making many more of these as queen mating nucs. Then I’ll be producing and selling queens. Thanks for the question. I’m enjoying your videos 👍

[@LeisyBee1]

@@bennybeekeeper keep up the great work!

[@fishmut]

Awesome job making these mating boxes , I really enjoyed your video , I would love to try this if only I can get the styrofoam boxes might be an issue for me , your bees are going great ,keep them warm and they should get through the winter , I have lost hive from freezing frosts ,whole hives dead ,wrap maybe some old towels around them or cut up old blanket, remember styrofoam was created to keep things cold , like the old styrofoam esky’s, I’d wrap them in something to keep them warm and they should get through the cold if your feeding them. 👍

[@bennybeekeeper]

Thanks for the comment. I have been thinking about making a lid that comes down over the sides for winter to try and keep more heat in. I think the ones with a good strong population will be ok but I definitely have a few weaker ones that are going to struggle to get through winter

[@ME_MeAndMyBees]

Nice Video by the way. . . Gives me an opportunity to make (copy) your Construction on what's needed to have similar "Mating Nucs." 😎 Would this be useful. . . (?) Here in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 we are in the beginnings of Winter. Some near Freezing Temps in Celsius ! I have several Hives UK National (Medium-ish) the US Langstroth (Large-ish) and also the French "Warre" using Frames, not Top Bars ! (Warre : Medium compared to others !) Have Raised my own Black Bees (AMM) on all Formats... Using a Mating Nuc "Warre" Frames nested within the larger Nat or Lang Frame : by using a Cable (Zip) Tie to hold it in situ. The newly Mated (Laying) Queen. Can then be added into Regular Nucs of National, Langstroth or Warre as each Beekeeper or Newbie needs on getting a Nuc ! Suggestion : Would that Poly 'Vaccine' Box uncut and Converted into a Mating Hive with a build thats "Deeper" (Longer Frame) say x3 Colonies Parallel to each other : using Divider Boards ! "Mating" Hives = : Front, Back, and x1 Mid Side Entrance... Would mean each 'Mini Nuc' would have more "Resources" to move "Up"on through any Winter ! Have more resilience... Bees move Approx x1mm Up a Comb Face to get Food 'Higher up the Comb'. And it's Warmer at a Top of the Hive ! These would Over Winter better. And I guess having x3 Hives per Box 'Warmth' is kind of increased too. . . Or do as you are in those "Didi Frames" but have them x2 Deep, and possibly x2 Across too. Using say the Original Lid (Spares) as you Wall Dividers. And still Cut that Second Upper Box (Shim) and use that as the Supering (over Winter) extra Top Frame Section per Mating Colony ! 😉 Guess the overall Dimensions of a Deeper Frame / or x2 Tier is roughly the same Size as a 'Warre Frame' ! Warre Hives Boxes are 300mm x 300mm with Depth of x210mm. I have easily over Wintered on x1 Box with say a x100mm Shim with Fondant in it over a Layer of Foil Bubble Insulation. And a Board Roof & Ex Chicken Feed Sack as Water Proof Cover ! And of course a Brick to hold all in place. Just a thought. . . 😎 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 Happy Beekeeping 2024 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝

[@hildebrandtrius]

Thanks for sharing! Were you inspired at all by Sam Comfort’s hives?

[@bennybeekeeper]

Yes. Very inspired you could say. I have made some of his wooden ones but timber is very expensive where I live. Whereas I get these boxes for free.

[@michaelg4972]

Awesome will definitely try this, what paint do you use, acrylic?

[@bennybeekeeper]

Yes acrylic

[@andybryson5061]

Ingenious

[@bennybeekeeper]

Thanks

[@hennohimself]

I am intrigued by these. What is your main use for them? Queen rearing? I absolutely love the idea but an struggling to understand the benefits over my existing 5 frame NUCs aside from keeping some spare queens cheaply and easily. Do you use them for apiary expansion on the cheap? How long until you have to move the mini colonies on to somewhere else/bigger? Keep up the vids. I love these sorts of "new ideas" to keeping bees.

[@bennybeekeeper]

The purpose of these mini nucs is to use as queen mating nucs. Ultimately to sell queens. They are an alternative to the commercially available mini Nuc. I can make these for around $5 whereas the bought ones are around $25 to buy.

[@hennohimself]

@@bennybeekeeper Brilliant idea. I've already had my eyes out for local supplies of these poly boxes :)

[@ME_MeAndMyBees]

Hi there. Thank you so much for doing a Video "How To" on these really awesome little Mating Nucs. Glad you were able to accept my request for some footage to make these "Mini Queen Rearing Hives." The commercially made ones are getting so expensive now, around about £15 to £18 each. (Much more than what you have with the AU$ Dollar there. Bargain Deal for sure !) Mind you making your own is a nice option : Cheaper, create your own Design. And some 'Upcycling' of what might just go into Landfill ! Win, win. 👍 Off to see if I can find a local Business that might have some 'empty' Poly Boxes going spare. Thanks again. 😎 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 Happy Beekeeping 2024 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 This Video is perfectly timed for us here in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 as Spring is just about to occur next Month 🤞 So still have a bit of time to make some up. Nice one. 😉

[@alexandroscolombo8015]

Thank you for sharing!!!

[@alainguepard7774]

Super merci

[@bennybeekeeper]

Thanks

[@crashclan9772]

I’ll try to make one look amazing starting with bees this year

[@bennybeekeeper]

Good luck 😉

[@garycorlew2080]

Thank you for the video! I didn’t realize you were making them like that, I thought you were probably bending the styrofoam in to two “L” shapes somehow

[@bennybeekeeper]

Very simple when you see it hey

[@garycorlew2080]

@@bennybeekeeper yes, I had my wife get me some of those from her work, she works in the medical field

[@mandojur9687]

Pershendetje dhe pune te mbare👋🤝, nese I bej nukeuset me dru dhe jo me polisterol, cfare ndryshon?

[@bennybeekeeper]

You can do that. Wood is expensive. I get polystyrene for free. Wood is also a poor insulator.

[@Mermar431]

Por dentro también la pintas??

[@bennybeekeeper]

Yes I paint the inside. 2 coats is good

[@ahmadbakochbakoch]

🌹🌹🌷🌺🐝🐝🐝

[@ahmedbounce3053]

This is wrong you need to add underneath ventilation and the entrance is big for a mini mating nuc