How does it take for 5 frame NUC to be filled to 10 frames

[Foreststalker]

I got a 2 5 frame NUCS Saturday. I have all 10 frames in the box. How long
does it normally take for a queen to fill the entire box with brood? I guess what I am asking
is when should I inspect the hive.

[Andrew Dewey]

Let the girls sit by themselves for a week if you can before you do your first inspection. While early inspections can be detrimental to the bees, they serve to increase your knowledge of what is happening in the hive. So if you can't wait a week before inspecting, don't worry about it too much. Sort of a first year learning exemption. In subsequent years leave a new nuc alone for at least a week - feeding as appropriate for your area. My experience has been that the bees will draw out the five new frames in their box at a tremendously variable rate - anywhere between a week and a month. Much depends on the strength of the nuc, the weather, and the time of year the nuc is installed.

[indypartridge]

I recommend that new beekeepers inspect every week to 10 days. Your first year is all about learning, and the only way to learn is to get in the hive and check things out.

Do thorough inspections - frame-by-frame. Are they drawing out foundation? Is the queen laying a nice pattern? Do you see eggs, larva and capped brood? Can you see cells filled with pollen and nectar? If you happen to notice the queen - fine - but don't make that a goal of inspecting.

[Foreststalker]

Does anyone have a good pic of what a good brood pattern should look like?

[jonathan]

If your 5 frame nuc has 4 frames of mainly sealed brood your 10 frames will be covered in bees within a fortnight.
If it has very little brood build up will be much slower.

The limiting factor is the number of bees - as this determines to brood area which can be kept warm.
Until more bees emerge the brood nest cannot grow.

[Adrian Quiney WI]

A "fortnight" is two weeks.

[Vance G]

Two weeks! I thought it was protecting your stash the day after the checks come in.

[winevines]

The limiting factor is the number of bees - as this determines to brood area which can be kept warm.
Until more bees emerge the brood nest cannot grow.

Also nectar flow, foundation or drawn comb in the box will be a major factor as well as queen acceptance and viability. When put in to full equipment, I had a few nucs grow like gangbusters, filling out frames in days. I have had others grow very slowly, and are now replacing queens.

[jonathan]

A "fortnight" is two weeks.

You say potato etc...
A fortnight in Ireland is 2 weeks, exactly 14 days.

In Mexico they call 2 weeks quince días and that's one extra in my book.