[Saltybee]

Started QCs, high probability of rejection.
How can you be sure there isn't a virgin in the works? Paranoid me would start the bought in a separate nuc and give it more time.
You do not really know when the swarm departed and where in the virgin calendar you are?

 

[WRLCPA]

Started QCs, high probability of rejection.
How can you be sure there isn't a virgin in the works? Paranoid me would start the bought in a separate nuc and give it more time.
You do not really know when the swarm departed and where in the virgin calendar you are?

I could do that too, same result. I have one production hive that already has a second super on it that could spare three frames

 

[Arnie]

I would take a few frames of open brood with bees from your other hives. Make sure you don't have the queen on one of those frames.
Introduce the purchased queen.
Now you have a colony you can use to requeen the hive in case the queen they raise is a dud.

You can do this on the same hive stand if you have a double screen. Put the new queen above the hive that is raising the new queen.

You'll have this:
Bottom box raising new queen. Queen excluder if you use them. Honey super. Double screen with entrance facing back. Hive box with purchased queen and frames of brood and a little honey.

Then you can keep the queen you like and pinch the one you don't. Combine back in to one hive.

 

[WRLCPA]

I would take a few frames of open brood with bees from your other hives. Make sure you don't have the queen on one of those frames.
Introduce the purchased queen.
Now you have a colony you can use to requeen the hive in case the queen they raise is a dud.

You can do this on the same hive stand if you have a double screen. Put the new queen above the hive that is raising the new queen.

You'll have this:
Bottom box raising new queen. Queen excluder if you use them. Honey super. Double screen with entrance facing back. Hive box with purchased queen and frames of brood and a little honey.

Then you can keep the queen you like and pinch the one you don't. Combine back in to one hive.

Thats why I asked what I thought was a no brainier question. Two more excellent solutions. i think I like the Nuc option, More versatility

 

[Arnie]

Nucs are really handy to have. Lots of uses for them.

 

[WRLCPA]

Nucs are really handy to have. Lots of uses for them.

Yes indeed. I strive to have equal numbers of nuc's and regular hives. Just didn't consider this opportunity but will take it