2013 Nuc 2

Hive status:  New nuc 2013
Hive origin:  Nuc formed from 1 frame of 2013 Hive 1 (found capped supercedure cell 6/10/13) and 2 frames from 2013 Hive 2
Queen type:  Pending new from 2013

6/10/13:  Created this nuc when I found a capped supercedure cell in 2013 Hive 1 which had a relatively new queen.  I removed this frame to a nuc in case she just needs a bit more time to pick up laying.  Added two frames of nurse bees with a bit of brood from H2.  Two remaining frames are one undrawn and one of drawn comb.  A tiny nuc just to raise this queen opportunistically.

6/15/13:  Still small, queen cell open, queen not seen and no eggs.  Perhaps on mating flight?  Same as Nuc 1.

6/21/13:  Still no queen spotted, no eggs, this time there was another capped queen cell.  That egg must have come from the new queen, but they are not happy with her?

6/28/13:  Saw the new queen that hatched out, she is not yet laying. Small nuc.

7/5/13:  Small nuc, new eggs, spotted queen.  OK in nuc for now.

7/23/13:  Queen spotted, not laying.  No queens were laying at this time.

8/3/13:  Eggs and queen spotted.  Low on honey, could soon go in to a deep with some frames of honey.  Ditto for 8/10/13.

8/17/13:  Spotted eggs and queen.  Small nuc, no food.  Added a frame of honey and 20 minutes later there was a swarm of bees raiding this nuc through a crack between the lid and the nuc box.  I changed the lid to one that did not leave a gap and stuffed most of the entrance with grass to prevent robbing.

8/25/13:  Eggs spotted, ok on food and space.   Not robbed out.

9/11/13: Perfect nuc!  Food, brood, eggs, not too big or growing too fast for the space.  Has honey, pollen, and is drying nectar.

9/28/13:  Still perfect.

12/22/13:  Nuc is nearly frozen to death, starved, down to a couple of hundred bees (200?) and the queen was hanging on.  This hive will likely freeze in a cold snap.  Replaced an empty frame with a frame full of honey in the center of the nuc.