Can I start a nuc in an 8 frame?

[erbs honey]

What's wrong with doing this?  It would mean less work and disturbing them less.  Or even 10 frames?  I want to get rid of several of my deep supers and I could sell nucs in them, couldn't I?

[Oldbeavo]

Take your 8 frame box, get some 3" polystyrene and cut 2 pieces the size of the internal dimensions of your box, these fit on either side and replace 2 frames. You then have space in the center of your box for 4 frames.
When the nuc grows take out one piece of polystyrene and add 2 frames, when it grows some more take out the other piece and add 2 more frames.
Or sell the 4 frame nuc in the 8 frame box.
Ps polystyrene insulates the box as well as taking up space and is light weight.

[sc-bee]

Sure you can but the bees grow faster in less space...

[Acebird]

Sure, why not?  You could even let them fill the box and sell it as a complete hive, get more money

[erbs honey]

Sure you can but the bees grow faster in less space...

THAT's what I wanted to know.  Thank for your replies and suggestions, guys.

[erbs honey]

Sure, why not?  You could even let them fill the box and sell it as a complete hive, get more money

Hmmmm...how much would something like that go for?

[Acebird]

One full deep, try 250.

[Sniper338]

A 5 frame nuc goes for 260 around me

[Acebird]

A 5 frame nuc goes for 260 around me

From a backyard newbie?

[GSF]

I am probably way underpriced. I sell an 8f deep 80-90 percent drawn and packed full of bees for $180. I usually tell folks you better split or add a super or they will swarm.

[sc-bee]

I am probably way underpriced. I sell an 8f deep 80-90 percent drawn and packed full of bees for $180. I usually tell folks you better split or add a super or they will swarm.

Yep under-priced.... a  5 frame nuc here deep or medium is $150

[sc-bee]

A 5 frame nuc goes for 260 around me

I would be looking somewhere else 

[billdean]

A 5 frame nuc goes for 260 around me

Around Michigan I see a 5 frame nuc going for $120.00 to $180.00.

[erbs honey]

A 5 frame nuc goes for 260 around me

From a backyard newbie?

Well, I wouldn't call me a TOTAL newbie.  I've been doing this for only five years, though. Backyard, yes, we have only 8-12 hives at any given time. 

[Eric Bosworth]

I am not buying any nucs this year but last year I got 4 frame nucs for 126 from a local guy that winters his bees in SC. His operation is huge and the nucs were turned into very productive hives.

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[Captain776]

I am from Boston  but have lived in Thailand for 11 years now and am brand new to Beekeeping.
I bought an 8 frame NUC from the Bee Farm near me for 3500 BHAT which equals 102.00 USD. Bought it April 7 and it is doing great so far.
I can buy waxed and wired frames for 1.50 each, those are full wax sheets not starter strips.
There is a Beefarm with over 2000 hives 30 minutes away from me but they really don't sell supplies just bees, hives, and NUC's and frames.
I have a sawmill 5 minutes away that has done a lot of work in my house with Teak, I have them building 5 hives for me, just gave them the order, not sure the price but it will be cheap.
Still looking for a Beekeeping club or group here and for a supplier that is local. I have an order coming from Mann lake.....shipping was insane but I need a few things until I find a better cheaper way to do it.
Chiang Mai University does things with bees here and I am in contact with them to see what they can tell me about local conditions and local pests.

Bruce

[CrazyTalk]

A 5 frame nuc goes for 260 around me

Around Michigan I see a 5 frame nuc going for $120.00 to $180.00.

I'm amazed at $120 nucs - packages run about than in my neck of the woods, and Nucs are 150+

[BeeMe]

I have often wondered if there is a market for 8 and 10 frame hive when people are use to buying 5 frame nucs.  The value of an over wintered 8 frame hive would be more than twice that of a spring nuc.  An over wintered hive would produce honey the first year.  I just doubt that many would be willing to recognize its value.  Even if one just considers the value of a fully developed frame of wax.  It seems the beekeeper would need to sell it for at least $250 or $300.  Other wise he/she would have a better profit by splitting it in the spring into two or three nucs and sell each for $180 (or local price).

[Captain776]

Sure, I requested an 5 frame NUC and they gave it to me in an 8 frame box and they are doing very well.
5 frame NUC here, very good quality, lots of bees, eggs, Larvae, capped.....nice for 1800 BHAT or 53.00 USD

They don't sell packages or by the pound or kilogram, they sell by the frame.
A frame full of bees including the frame and whatever the bees are doing is 250 BHAT or 7.40 USD

My 4th hive, which is my first split, is doing well, she is laying, I see Larvae but still not a lot of bees so I think she is only laying what they can cover so next week, I will go get 3 frames and add them to this split by the newspaper method.

[eltalia]

"I have often wondered if there is a market for 8 and 10 frame hives"

Definitely so, locally in FNQ. I have lost count of the number I have fostered for
those that found trouble in managing their new backyard beehive, purchased
"online from South", and bought with the view of adding a FlowHive super once
the colony was "ripe"..their words, not mine.

Cheers.

Bill