On Thu, May 11, 2017 at 3:09 PM, Robert Darrell  wrote:

>
> >I produce several nucs each year, as swarm prevention in May/June using
> purchased cells, and sell a few.  The ones I keep get a second 4 frame box,
> thanks to Mike Palmer.  Except for the honey supers that I add during the
> first summer, these nucs stay in the 4 over 4 setup until the following
> spring.  Their first full season, after being moved into standard boxes in
> April/May, is usually their best year production wise.  I do not introduce
> mated queens into my hives but sometimes use one of my new nucs to merge
> with a hive having problems.  Mike's advice as I understand it, however, is
> to nuc any non-producing hives rather than trying to nurse them along.



I do not (did not) have the pleasure to meet Mr Palmer but he is totally
right with a big however: All year round (for what ever reason) we find
those colonies been left-behind-the-rest (however each one defines
the-rest); but not all year is a good time to graft, make or purchase queen
cells, and for sure there is a season without drones.

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