Abscond

[deemann1]

I collected a over wintered nuke last Saturday and placed it in apiary.
Today I went to inspect and to my shock they were all gone five frames empty of stores and bee's.
All that's left is around 100 bees and some brood
I was thinking they got robbed out and moved on ...
What's my options now ?
I have one strong colony could I add a frame of bees to nuc and let them raise a new queen

 

[Beefriendly]

Commiserations...bummer. Surprised they left with brood present so your ideas about riobbing may not be far off. I'm presuming there are other colonies nearby all desperate for food in the previous dire weather
Alternatively , perhaps the seller has bred a new type of "homing" bee that return home after a few days...sell again and again.

 

[Eyeman]

Same thing happened to that bloke who bought some racing pigeons. Got them home let them out and they bu**ered off back to the original owner.