Hi Dean-
 
I'm interested to hear that you have found that mini-nucs are not cost
effective for you in the long run.  Why is that?
 
Where I live, queen breeders often use baby nucs in the early, cool spring to
produce queens for the peak market.  They then gradually incorporate
five-frame nucs as hot weather approaches and market demand decreases.
 
Some breeders here compromise by using intermediate size nucs (duplex or
four-way, medium depth) during the entire breeding season.  Is this what
works best for you?
 
Kevin Roberts
Hollister, California