Mini swarm not doing anything

[BMH]

Caught a very small swarm 3 days ago.

Probably the size of a couple of tennis balls.

Put them in a 5 frame nuc and they arent doing anything.

Literally. Nothing. Just clustered like they were when I caught them.

I have filled the nuc with foundation and was holding off feeding for a few days but not sure where to go next.

I have a hive that is queenless/virgin queens emerging.

Do you think I should just dump them all in there and let the queens fight it out if there is even a queen in the mini swarm

 

[Nige.Coll]

No that would not be a great idea.

See if they have a queen go through them in the box and look.
diseased,queenless,starving are some options.

 

[Sussex Bees]

What about giving them a frame of brood with eggs?

 

[Finman]

.
If you make 1 frame nuc from polystyre insulating board, it starts to live.
It's size is same as mating nuc.

Glue the box with Poly Urethane glue = PU. Give a water mist girdt on glue surface.

The one piece of boas as roof.
Floor can be plye or wood.

This kind of polybox is warm.

 

[BMH]

All good advice - thanks.

I am going to merge all three.

Will dummy down with polystyrene, feed and give them a frame of brood/stores, pollen. see if i can find a nice mixed frame from another colony.

I reckon they are hungry!!!

Tried to look for the queen but couldnt see her and its difficult when they are all clustered.

thanks for the replies.

 

[oliver90owner]

Emerging brood for reinforcing, especially for very small colonies which are unable to service open brood.