Hey folks. I have an unexpected development (albeit, most developments in my short beekeeping experience are unexpected). I am looking for some sage advice on how to best handle this situation.
I went out yesterday and inspected my 3 hives. I have had a nuc box sitting out there because I have seen queen cells throughout the summer, and thought, "what the heck, I'll just give 'em a place to go if they decide to swarm". Well, they did. I have a small group of bees who have taken up residence in the nuc. I did not find the queen. Most of the bees were hanging on an empty frame with a starter strip. I suspect the queen might have been in that mass and didn't knock them off to find her. I started feeding 2:1 yesterday on all of the hives and the nuc. The nuc has a frame of old brood wax, and one empty frame with a starter strip. The remaining 3 frames are foundation, with no wax. I am estimating that I have maybe a frame and a half of bees, with a LOT of work to be done to build the wax out.
I saw very few eggs (might be my eyes) in the 3 hives. Saw none in the nuc and there is no brood in the nuc. The 3 hives are doing well, and there were a number of very nice brood frames in each of the hives. Stores seem to me to be reasonable in the 3 hives.
I'm thinking the hives are positioned well to survive the winter, but obviously the nuc is not. I am planning on continuing to feed 2:1 until the hives and the nuc stop taking it. Am also considering stealing a brood frame from the strongest hive to supplement the nuc. I certainly don't want to jeopardize the hives to try (and fail) to get the nuc through the winter. I am thinking the nuc has a very poor chance of survival.
I am also considering taking a deep box out and transfering the nuc into that. I have one built out frame of wax plus an empty frame with about 1/3 filled with wax that I can supplement the nuc frames with.
I am in southern Illinois, and winter is coming.
Thanks in advance for any advice. I realize that it may be hopeless for the nuc, but hate to just accept that. PappyRick