The choice between buying a nuc (short for nucleus colony) or a package of bees depends on a few factors, such as your experience level as a beekeeper, your budget, and your goals.
A nuc is a small colony of bees that includes a queen, brood, honeycomb, and worker bees. Buying a nuc can be a good option for beginner beekeepers or those who are new to beekeeping in a particular region. Since the nuc already has a queen and some brood, it can be easier to establish a healthy colony, and it may have a head start on honey production compared to starting from scratch. However, nucs can be more expensive than packages of bees.
A package of bees, on the other hand, is simply a box containing a certain number of worker bees and a queen. Buying a package of bees can be a more cost-effective option, and it may be the only option available if nucs are not available in your area. However, it can be more challenging to establish a healthy colony from a package of bees since you will need to introduce the queen and the bees to each other and provide them with everything they need to establish a colony from scratch.
Ultimately, the choice between buying a nuc or a package of bees depends on your personal preferences and circumstances. If you’re new to beekeeping, a nuc may be a good option to get started, but if you’re experienced and confident in your abilities, a package of bees could work just as well.