cast swarm in a top bar nuc

ratcatcher · Jul 3, 2012

so I made a tb nuc, and within 2 weeks had a call to collect a cast swarm via work (pest controller/new bee keeper) it had landed on ballast side of underground train lines, so it was not an easy collection, and I may have either lost the queen/damaged or killed her in the collection

http://youtu.be/JaMiLtfZ4Cw

friends have told me I need to wait 3 weeks then check to see if we have any brood, its been 2 weeks so far,

http://youtu.be/UEowPVWA608

but Im now wondering if I should transfer them into a 6 frame national nuc, as being a small colony surely having frames with wax foundation would help them out building wise, but also if we are queenless, would it be easier adding qc/brood frame from friends bee's

Pooh Bear · Jul 11, 2012

'just reading this now (11th July) and wondering how you got on... I ran into a similar problem when my topbar went queenless... not knowing anyone who could lend me brood comb that would fit into it. The videos are pretty good. I hope it all works out. Good luck.

ratcatcher · Jul 11, 2012

both good and bad

the cast swarm were queenless, 2 weeks after picking them up a beek friend checked for me, they were cross combing and had a laying worker, multiple eggs per cell (upto 5) and they were dwindling out,

on a good note though I went and collected another cast swarm from an old lady's garden, around the corner from me, in an apple tree, very easy collection, and although they spent the first day/night clustered to the outside of hive, the next day the queen went in and they are still there, that was a week ago, and this was todays clip

http://youtu.be/PU3JhyVc3oI
they are in a homemade 6 frame nuc, and will get transferred into a national