Kieler mini nucs?

**busybeephilip** · 05-10-2017, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by fatshark

If we're talking about daft prices for frames then it's worth looking at Thorne's foundationless V-shaped top bar frames

Foundationless frame - small bit of thin ply and thats job done ........ did you not read that bit "By popular demand" ... first I've ever heard of these

**busybeephilip** · 05-10-2017, 10:49 AM

Actually, jsut noticed Thorneys have now stopped selling apideas but do the plastic rainbow thing instead for £8.50 Looks like a small version of a picnic ice box (now there's a thought could this below be converted into a ... Nextgen mating hive? ..)

https://www.physique.co.uk/Hot-Cold-...fe&fo_s=gplauk

**Jon** · 05-10-2017, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by busybeephilip

Actually, jsut noticed Thorneys have now stopped selling apideas but do the plastic rainbow thing instead for £8.50 Looks like a small version of a picnic ice box (now there's a thought could this below be converted into a ... Nextgen mating hive? ..)

https://www.physique.co.uk/Hot-Cold-...fe&fo_s=gplauk

There were people using those rainbow units at Minnowburn and getting mated queens out of them last summer.

**busybeephilip** · 05-10-2017, 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by Jon

There were people using those rainbow units at Minnowburn and getting mated queens out of them last summer.

Jon - As you are well aware I was not at minnowburn last summer, However, there is little difference between rainbows and apideas, rainbows are less likely to be eaten by mice therefore will last longer but would be just as efficient rolewise for queen mating units compared to apideas, same size of frames. Personally I won't be buying anymore commercially made mating nucs - All DIY stuff for me, thats the fun in beekeeping

**prakel** · 06-10-2017, 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by busybeephilip

Personally I won't be buying anymore commercially made mating nucs - All DIY stuff for me, thats the fun in beekeeping

That's where we were heading....and where I will be heading again once I start restocking -but they won't, strictly, be 'mini' as such.

**madasafish** · 09-10-2017, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by busybeephilip

Jon - As you are well aware I was not at minnowburn last summer, However, there is little difference between rainbows and apideas, rainbows are less likely to be eaten by mice therefore will last longer but would be just as efficient rolewise for queen mating units compared to apideas, same size of frames. Personally I won't be buying anymore commercially made mating nucs - All DIY stuff for me, thats the fun in beekeeping

I have 5 rainbow minis - raised 7 queens from them this year. I have a program to make min mating nucs from celotex.. about £4 each.