Large Swarm In a Deep Nuc

[Two Bees]

Caught a large 4-5 pound swarm yesterday and put it in a deep nuc.  It was a lot of bees.  My intent is to sell the nuc after they get established.  I anticipate that it will take 7-10 days for them to draw out the five frames of foundation.

Can I put a second deep nuc box on top to give them room so they won't swarm if they max out the first nuc box before I can sell them?

If so, can I split the two box nuc later after they have filled the second nuc box and make two nucs?   :)

[iddee]

yes and yes, if you buy a queen for the split.

[Two Bees]

Iddee,

Can I just let the split produce their own queen?

Thanks!

[iddee]

I would think the number of bees would be too small to do it and build up as rapidly as they need to build. You can get 3 weeks more egg laying by buying a queen.

[Two Bees]

Good point.  I am trying my hand at starting nucs from splits and this swarm presented something different.  I may check my full-blown hives to see if I have any swarm cells that can be cut out and placed in the split nuc using the method you described to Tillie.

Thanks!

[Jahjude]

Yeah Twobee,that'd be way better that having to buy a Queen,plus you'd have a history of the new Queens genetics for ur own benefit of for that of the customer.