Just got home from picking up 2 nucs. The guy threw them into my hive bodies for me, he was in a rush. 5 frames each and all had pretty solid brood. One frame had what looked like a cluster of queen cups. There was appeared to be 4 or 5 cups about 2 inches from the top of the frame. I'll get a better look tomorrow and take a pic if I can.
I left the SBB open and taped folded up window screen across the entrance. The hives were facing to the rear about 1 inch or 2 from the tailgate. 3 1/2 hour drive to get them home, but the boxes were buzzing nicely when I poked my head over the tailgate.
Tonight they're camping out in the back of the truck. About 7 am tomorrow, I'll load them on my cart and move them to the hive stand in the field and give them 15-20 minutes to settle down. Then I'll open the entrance, put the reducer on and cut a branch to stick in front. Probably don't need the branch, but what the heck. I'll give them a couple more hours after that for the foragers to start their flights and start looking for resources. I'll pop the top, fill the feeder and lay a pollen patty on each hive...and give them their inner cover.
I'm leaving the bottom board taped to the body until I get a different space cleared of trees and vines that I want to keep them permanently
Best of luck with your new girls!!
No need for a branch after moving them miles.
Where is hopelessly lost anyway?
Sounds like you've just about got this whipped. I'm sure you feel relieved to get them home and settled in. 350 is a lot of stress-filled miles to travel. Congrats! Now the real fun starts!
David
PS - please do add you location to your profile so everyone knows which neck of the woods you are located. Geographic location helps a lot when devising a strategy for answering your questions... should you have any.