Weak Nuc.

[Millet]

I have a weak nuc here with a clipped 2018 Queen.
She was put in the nuc after I found her running around on the floor after a failed swarm attempt..I also put a frame of sealed brood in there and some frames of stores ..
She is laying but I am concerned about the lack of bees to rear brood from these eggs..
I have not done this before so I ask a question..

I have a few strong colonies so either one of these would not miss a frame of sealed brood covered with nurse bees..

Could I safely place this frame into the nuc that needs a boost or will I need air freshener.
Cheers.
Steve.

 

[Anduril]

Take a frame of emerging brood and bees from 2 different colonies to add to the nuc, tap the frames gently to dislodge any fliers, then you should be left with brood and nurse bees, this way there is no need for air freshener as you have 3 different hive scents in there Then move nuc to a different location or add branches in front of it. In a couple of days check the strength of the nuc.

 

[Millet]

Thank you for that..as it happens I have two strong gentle colonies right beside the nuc so that will be a quick easy manipulation..

 

[Millet]

Sorted but I had a change of plan..the 2018 Queen is a laying machine and would fill any space in a six frame nuc fairly quick..i have spare drawn brood frames some with stores and some empty so i decided to transfer the Queen into a poly brood box..I also took a frame of sealed brood with nurse bees from two colonies and added them..now I can leave them too it for a couple of weeks.

 

[Anduril]

Sounds good

 

[Eyeman]

What I do now when boosting a nuc/small colony by adding extra brood and bees is put a push-in-cage over the queen on her original frame with some of her workers. Then quick puff of air freshner and release the queen next day.