Talk about throwing chum in the water...

The standard answer for new beekeepers is nucs, but even that is qualified.
The reason for nucs is a nice start with drawn foundation and brood, so
less chance of trouble for an inexperienced beekeeper.

But, here in Maine, I would go with a package since you get the bees
earlier- from 2 weeks to a month earlier, and you have less chance of
bringing in all the troubles that inhabit the nuc.Packages are just cleaner
and they go on new everything - foundation, frames, boxes.... and they have
a nice Varroa break. In my experience, they will catch up with the nuc and
pass it.

So one vote for packages.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, Maine

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