2 days ago I pulled 1 frame of eggs/larvae with pollen and honey on it, 1 frame of capped honey, and I frame of capped brood and placed them in a 5 frame nuc with 2 frames of foundation. I placed this nuc about 150 ft. away from my 2 other strong hives. Yesterday at approx. 5pm I placed a quart of 1:1 on them. At 7:30 this am I went out to check on them and the entire quart of 1:1 was empty and there was major robbing going on. I pulled the top and they have taken about half of the capped honey. There is 1 queen cell being pulled. I couldn't tell but it looks like some of the eggs were destroyed. There was a hand size cluster that were obviously robbing on the frame of honey.
I have closed the hive entrance off completely to stop the robbing. My questions are, how long do I need to keep it closed? What will happen to the robbers that are in the hive when I open it back up? Will they go back to the other hives and tell there friends and start another robbing session? Do I need to pull another frame of eggs/nurse bees from one of the strong hives? and if so how long should I wait to do it?
I'm only a second year beek. I was worried about robbing but I thought by only feeding them late in the day would prevent that. Lessoned learned I guess
I have closed the hive entrance off completely to stop the robbing. My questions are, how long do I need to keep it closed? What will happen to the robbers that are in the hive when I open it back up? Will they go back to the other hives and tell there friends and start another robbing session? Do I need to pull another frame of eggs/nurse bees from one of the strong hives? and if so how long should I wait to do it?
I'm only a second year beek. I was worried about robbing but I thought by only feeding them late in the day would prevent that. Lessoned learned I guess