Steve asks "All of this brought another question to mind.  If a nuc can be
wintered
over why can't a less populated hive winter over as well?"
 
Of course, a weak hive could be over-wintered just as a nuc can.  The
question is "why bother".
 
One over-winters a nuc to get a fast spring build-up to a strong hive.  It
doesn't always work, but the odds are with you.  On the other hand, a weak
hive has demonstrated that it cannot succeed...usually because of a poor
queen.  Natural selection would have it die out during the winter, but it
might be better for the beekeeper to combine it with a strong hive (to
protect the combs, if nothing else).  Under no circumstance should a
beekeeper combine two weak hives.  The only result of that is to produce
another weak hive!
 
Hope this helps.
 
Lloyd
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Owner, Ross Rounds(tm)  the finest in comb honey production.