Queenless Ratty Nuc

Erichalfbee · Sep 23, 2019

Stiffy said:
I am not a great fan of the plastic bought in push in cages as things can go wrong: bees tunneling in from back and a small gap allowing early release are just two of the issues I have had.
It doesn't stop determined aggressive bees tunneling , but better I find to use a bit of a bit of old mesh floor and fashion my own
When used, I always slide the plastic cover on travel cage over the push in cage until the queen moves onto the frame, saves worrying she has managed to get out.
S

Oh attendants always with her

Same here
I've made my own from varroa mesh, a bit bigger than the ones sold commercially
A little deeper too so that I can really squash the mesh into the frame
Good tip about the plastic cover

SWEET · Sep 25, 2019

She/they were released late yesterday eve, they seemed fine around the cage (no stinging/biting etc) so fingers crossed*.

Made a cage from mesh as above, something to try next year.

Back in 10 days.

* Lightly sprayed the bees/cage again with sugar solution and gave them a feed.

jenkinsbrynmair · Sep 25, 2019

DABOSS said:
She/they were released late yesterday eve, they seemed fine around the cage (no stinging/biting etc) so fingers crossed*.

Made a cage from mesh as above, something to try next year.

Back in 10 days.

* Lightly sprayed the bees/cage again with sugar solution and gave them a feed.

Leave well alone now - it's at this point unneccessary clattering around in the hive can cause late rejection

SWEET · Nov 18, 2019

Well, I looked about 10 ish days later and couldn't see the new queen, they started to get nasty so closed up and left them to it//

Checking the weights on the other nucs yesterday and had a peak inside the ratty one above (via the plug in the BS box), lots of bees and look fluffy (young?), was expecting an empty box as nearly two months on so maybe the queen survived.