BUMBA Programs

Queen Rearing and Nucs

A "Nuc" or nucleus colony" is a miniature, established hive of bees that contains a proven, egg laying queen and the necessary worker bee population required to build into a 20 frame, double deep colony rapidly. When you purchase a nuc, you get frames and a population of bees that you place within full sized hive equipment.

Most Nucs consist of 3 to 5 frames of drawn and partially drawn comb with bees, and they usually sell for $20.00 per frame; the nuc box in which they are transported is NOT included. 

Over the past few years, BUMBA has developed a queen rearing and nuc production program for the continuing support of our members. BUMBA Vice President Leigh Walton is instrumental in producing the queen cells necessary for these nucleus colonies.

Nucs and queens are usually available sometime in April, and weather plays the largest role in the number of nucs produced and when they will be ready for transfer to other member’s apiaries.

All queen cells are produced from colonies that exhibit the most desirable traits in our apiaries, and most of our cells are installed on other member’s frames to keep our gene pool as diversified as possible.

This program was developed to assist any new member who might experience difficulties getting a colony up and running in their first year. Any nucs available after new member issues have been resolved are available on a first come first served basis.