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One of my colonies has produced a number of emergency cells (not swarm cells, for sure.) They're capped. It's day 10 in the life cycle if I assume fresh eggs were used, but could be day 11-14, I guess.
I left the colony two frames, each with a cell or two. And I removed two frames that each have a cell or two.
I made up two four frame nucs, with some brood and a frame of pollen and of honey in each. I'm concerned about keeping the nuc box (double box) next to the original hive. It could get robbed. But those cells may be in the sensitive day 11-13 period where the pupal queen's wings can be damaged if I drive them to my house. It's a bumpy road.
Is it safe to leave them close to other normal size hives? Will the bees find them regardless, if there's any intent to rob? How do you keep tiny nucs safe? Also, since they're all house bees, should I put a small feeder in each? They need water to dilute honey, right? Easier to put on a pint jar of 1:1, above the inner cover.
I've not done this before and want to use these to resupply the original colony in case they don't end up queen right. Any advice helpful.
I left the colony two frames, each with a cell or two. And I removed two frames that each have a cell or two.
I made up two four frame nucs, with some brood and a frame of pollen and of honey in each. I'm concerned about keeping the nuc box (double box) next to the original hive. It could get robbed. But those cells may be in the sensitive day 11-13 period where the pupal queen's wings can be damaged if I drive them to my house. It's a bumpy road.
Is it safe to leave them close to other normal size hives? Will the bees find them regardless, if there's any intent to rob? How do you keep tiny nucs safe? Also, since they're all house bees, should I put a small feeder in each? They need water to dilute honey, right? Easier to put on a pint jar of 1:1, above the inner cover.
I've not done this before and want to use these to resupply the original colony in case they don't end up queen right. Any advice helpful.