Balling

[Norskegrandma]

Started some new nukes a few days ago with brood frames from Italian hives. Inserted queens with candy plugs...after the 4th day I checked the first NWC queen that was still caged. Physically released her and the other bees started balling her. I put her back in the queen cage before they were able to kill her ... they had her on the bottom board. What else can I do ?

[JOHN HINCHMAN]

Make Sure There Is Not A Queen , I Did The Same And I Looked Again And Found A Queen In My Nuc And Lost A Good 20 Dollar Queen

[HarryVanderpool]

It sounds like you did everything right up until the 4th day.
Next time, wait for AT LEAST 10 days to even touch the nuc.
She will be released in the quiet, and will have began laying with larvea being fed.
10 days is a minimum. Some people wait 10 - 14.
What's the hurry anyway?

[Norskegrandma]

Thanks for the advice....