[Michael Bush]

I'd put a frame of eggs and brood, a frame of emerging brood and a frame of honey and pollen and shake a couple of extra frames of bees into the observation hive. You want about twice as many bees as you think you need and in about three weeks when they haven't go the new queen laying yet, you could add a frame of emerging brood just to boost them again. Then you get to watch them raise a queen etc.

 

[Michael Bush]

>thanks for the info. so all of the frames should come from one of my hives?

One or three or more. Just not two... confusion is your friend.

> how do i shake bees into my observation hive??

Well you can lay it flat and shake them onto the combs and then try to brush them off the edges while you close up. Or you can shake the excess into an empty nuc box and connect (read "duct tape" or other jury rig) the hose to the hole in the nuc. That way with no comb in the nuc they will smell the brood and move into the hive. Then remove the nuc.

>do i close the tube off with grass for a few days until they consider this their new home??

No. I would put twice as many in to make up for the drift. How will they get food and water if they are confined?

>the observation hive will be about 50 ft away from where the hives are now. the hive does have a feeder and i do have pollen patties. i used foundationless which they are drawing out beautifully. i combined the info from beesource plans and bush bees...thanks again michael bush!!

Glad I could help.