A full sized beehive generally consists of two or three wooden boxes; each containing 10 wooden frames that hold the combs for easy removal and inspection.

For ease of understanding, a Nuc is basically a baby beehive. Nuc is simply short for Nucleus hive. A Nuc will usually be four or five frames of bees. Generally a Nuc will consist of one frame with honey and pollen for food, and three or four frames with brood (larva), and eggs. A Nuc being sold should also have a laying queen that is less than one year old.

Some commercial beekeepers make Nucs in early spring for sale to hobbyist beekeepers. These beekeepers usually purchase nucs to increase their number of hives, or to replace hives that died during winter.

More advanced beekeepers will usually make their own Nucs by taking frames from their hives that survived winter.