Swarm - caught but ok in plastic nuc box for week?

[sheena]

Hi, I stumbled across a swarm this afternoon and have managed to get it into one of the nuc boxes that I got the bees in last year. It is a plastic travel nuc box with 5 frames and I've put it inside a wooden box thats just a bit bigger and that will give them some protection. There was room for frame feeder of sugar syrup in beside the nuc box.

The box seems pretty full. Will they last until next weekend to get moved into a brood box or are they likely to move before then? If they need housed properly straight away then I'd best offer them out rather than waste them. Its just I need to get another hive for them so will take a few days!

Thanks

 

[justme]

It is normal when housing swarms from unknown provenence to not feed for 48 hrs. This allows them to turn honey they're carrying in their honey stomaches to be used to make wax and therefore lock up any nasties they may be carrying, eg EFB.

I've just picked up a boxed swarm (collected by owner, now ex owner) that he said was small and put it in a nuc cos that's all I had ready. Having hived it though it covered 5 frames so spent yesterday making, from scratch, a brood box for it. Already had a floor, roof etc.
Guess it should be ok for a week but if a prime swarm and therefore a 'slimmmed down' queen she could start laying in a week so should need more room (nectar and all). May have more time if virgin queen.

 

[sheena]

Hi, Ok, thanks for that, didn't know about the non feeding (newbie). Partner now hammering up a brood box for them but I'm away now until Thurs so fingers crossed they don't decide to move before then!

 

[Midland Beek]

Better in a bigger box sooner than later. I would be inclined to remove the feeder and give them another frame in its place, and then think about feeding them once they are in the proper hive.