How to Install a Nuc (Nucleus Colony): Step-by-Step Guide

If package installation seems intimidating, nucs are your friend. A nucleus colony comes with an established, laying queen, drawn comb, brood in all stages, and stored food. Installation takes 10 minutes and requires zero shaking of bees. It's the closest thing to plug-and-play beekeeping.

What Is a Nuc?

A nuc (short for "nucleus colony") is a small, functional colony typically consisting of:

5 frames of drawn comb (sometimes 4 or 6)
A mated, laying queen that the bees already accept
Brood in all stages – eggs, larvae, and capped pupae
Stored honey and pollen – enough food to sustain the colony
Worker bees covering all frames (roughly 10,000-15,000 bees)

Think of a nuc as a miniature, fully-functioning hive that you're transplanting into a larger home. The colony is already established—they just need more space to grow.

Nucs typically come in a cardboard or wooden nuc box that holds the frames during transport. You transfer the frames to your full-size hive, add empty frames to fill the remaining space, and you're done.

Why Choose a Nuc Over a Package?

Factor	Nuc	Package
Price	$175-250	$150-200
Queen Acceptance	Already accepted ✓	Introduction required
Drawn Comb	5 frames included ✓	Must build from scratch
Brood Present	All stages ✓	None (queen must start)
Food Stores	Included ✓	Must feed heavily
Installation Ease	Very easy ✓	More complex
Head Start	4-6 weeks ahead ✓	Baseline
First-Year Honey	More likely ✓	Less likely
Availability	Harder to find, local only	Widely available ✓

Bottom line: Nucs cost a bit more and can be harder to find, but they give beginners a significant advantage. The established colony has momentum—they'll build up faster, overwinter more successfully, and may even produce surplus honey in year one.

For a deeper comparison, see Packages vs. Nucs vs. Swarms.

Before Pickup

Hive Preparation

Hive assembled and in place – Your hive should be set up in its permanent location before you bring bees home.
Empty frames ready – You'll need 5 additional frames with foundation to fill the remaining space in a 10-frame box (or 3 for an 8-frame box).
Entrance reducer – Set to the smallest opening. Even though nucs are stronger than packages, a reduced entrance helps them defend against robbers.
Feeder prepared – Have 1:1 syrup ready, though nucs may not need as much feeding as packages since they have stores and foragers.

What to Bring for Pickup

Veil (at minimum) – you may need to secure the nuc box if bees are escaping
Ratchet strap or tape – to secure the nuc box if the entrance is screened only
Old sheet or towel – to cover the nuc in your vehicle
Vehicle with good ventilation – never put a nuc in a sealed trunk

Pickup Tips

Pick up in the evening if possible—foragers will be home and you'll get the full population.
Make sure the entrance is closed with screen, tape, or a foam strip. Loose bees in your car are not fun.
Transport carefully – keep the nuc level and don't brake hard. The frames can shift and crush bees.
Keep them cool – crank the AC or crack windows. Overheating kills bees quickly.

Step-by-Step Installation

Nuc installation is beautifully simple. The whole process takes 10-15 minutes.

Place the Nuc Near the Hive

Set the nuc box next to your hive, entrance facing the same direction. If bees have been cooped up during transport, you can open the entrance and let them fly for 15-20 minutes to relieve themselves. This is optional but reduces the number of bees flying during transfer.

Suit Up and Smoke (Lightly)

Put on your protective gear. Give the nuc entrance 2-3 gentle puffs of smoke, wait 30 seconds, then open the lid and give another light puff across the top bars. Nucs are usually calm, but smoking is good practice.

Remove Frames from Your Hive

Take out 5 frames from your brood box to make room. If using a 10-frame hive, remove frames from the center. Set them aside—you'll add them back after transferring the nuc frames.

Transfer Frames One at a Time

Lift each frame from the nuc and place it into your hive in the same order. The brood nest has a specific arrangement—don't shuffle them around. Place them in the center of your hive body.

Look for the queen as you transfer, but don't panic if you don't see her. She's in there. Just be careful not to drop frames or crush bees.

Add Your Empty Frames

Place your empty frames with foundation on either side of the nuc frames—some beekeepers put 2-3 on each side, others put all on one side. Either way works. The bees will draw comb outward as they expand.

Shake Remaining Bees into the Hive

The nuc box will have bees clinging to the walls and bottom. Give it a firm shake over the open hive to knock them in. You can also set the empty nuc box in front of the hive entrance—stragglers will walk in on their own.

Close Up

Replace the inner cover and outer cover. Ensure the entrance reducer is in place. If you're using a feeder, install it now—even nucs benefit from some feed while they're establishing.

That's it. Your nuc is installed. The whole process took less than 15 minutes, and the bees barely noticed the transition.

The First Weeks After Installation

Day 1-3: Orientation Period

Leave the hive alone for a few days. Foragers need to orient to the new location—they'll make short flights, circling the hive to memorize landmarks. Some bees may return to where the nuc box was, especially if you moved it to a different spot. They'll find their way eventually.

Day 5-7: First Inspection

Open the hive and check for:

Queen presence – Look for eggs (easier than finding the queen herself). Fresh eggs confirm she survived the transfer and is laying. How to spot eggs.
Normal brood pattern – Compact, consistent cells of capped brood with few gaps.
Bees working on new frames – You should see white wax being drawn on the empty foundation you added.
Calm behavior – Bees should be going about their business, not roaring or running.

Weeks 2-4: Expansion

The colony should be expanding rapidly. Workers emerge from the brood that was already in the nuc, and the queen continues laying. Watch for:

Drawn comb – Empty frames should be getting filled with wax and brood.
Increasing population – More bees covering frames each inspection.
Space needs – When 7-8 frames are being used, consider adding a second brood box.

Feeding Nucs

Nucs usually have some honey stores, so they're less dependent on feeding than packages. However, feeding 1:1 syrup accelerates comb building and population growth. Feed until:

They've drawn all frames in the first box, OR
They stop taking the syrup (natural flow is on), OR
You add honey supers (never feed with supers on)

Common Questions

What if the nuc frames are a different size than my hive?

Most nucs come on standard deep Langstroth frames. If you're using medium boxes throughout, you'll need a deep brood box to accommodate the nuc frames, at least temporarily. Alternatively, some suppliers offer medium-frame nucs—ask before ordering.

Should I keep the nuc box?

Cardboard nuc boxes are disposable. Wooden nuc boxes should be returned to the supplier (many charge a deposit) or kept for your own future use making splits.

What if I can't find the queen during installation?

Don't worry. Queens are elusive, and it's normal not to spot her during a quick transfer. As long as you see eggs at your first inspection (5-7 days later), she's fine. If no eggs after 10 days, contact your supplier.

Can I install a nuc in bad weather?

If it's raining or very cold, you can wait a day—just keep the nuc in a cool, dark place and ensure the entrance is screened (not sealed). A brief delay won't hurt them. But don't wait more than 24-48 hours; they need to get established.

When can I add a second box?

When 7-8 of your 10 frames are drawn and being used (covered with bees, containing brood or food), add another brood box on top. This usually happens 2-4 weeks after installation with a nuc, depending on nectar flow and feeding.

The Nuc Advantage

If you can find a quality local nuc, it's the best way to start beekeeping. You're skipping the hardest part—getting a queen accepted and a colony established from scratch. The bees have momentum, the queen is proven, and you'll spend your first season watching a colony grow rather than hoping it survives.

The extra $25-50 over a package is money well spent. Your first year will be less stressful, more successful, and you might even get some honey.

How to Install a Nuc (Nucleus Colony)

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