Can a nuc take off with only 2 frames of bees?
I started out last week with a small nuc and then a package came in the mail. The nuc when I got it had 4 frames booming with bees, but by the end of the week, the flood of foragers in and out had ceased to a tiny trickle. Now there's maybe 2 1/2 frames of bees and I think they are young.
I don't know if my foragers ran into something nasty, or if they were all similar age and expired at the same time, but whatever, I'm fairly alarmed at this small number. They have a frame of brood they are tending, and don't seem to be moving off it. 2 and half frames of nectar. several empty frames not being worked.
I was toying with ordering another package, as H&R Apiary says they are going to ship some out end of May, in case this nuc doesn't do well, but I really don't know if I have time and resources for 3 hives.
What's your opinion?
I started out last week with a small nuc and then a package came in the mail. The nuc when I got it had 4 frames booming with bees, but by the end of the week, the flood of foragers in and out had ceased to a tiny trickle. Now there's maybe 2 1/2 frames of bees and I think they are young.
I don't know if my foragers ran into something nasty, or if they were all similar age and expired at the same time, but whatever, I'm fairly alarmed at this small number. They have a frame of brood they are tending, and don't seem to be moving off it. 2 and half frames of nectar. several empty frames not being worked.
I was toying with ordering another package, as H&R Apiary says they are going to ship some out end of May, in case this nuc doesn't do well, but I really don't know if I have time and resources for 3 hives.
What's your opinion?