Hi Folks,
Just an update on that virgin I took off a friend's delicate hands and slender fingers.
I put her queen cage in a 5 frame deep nuc, with a frame of nectar and pollen, one frame of brood (both with nurse bees), two old comb frames and a new frame. I set it in part shade, along the edge of my yard.
She was VERY young, she needed contact, so on the following day I released her. She was fine.
I watched the coming and going. Slow, nothing of note.
I checked yesterday. She wasn't there. the uncapped brood suffered and died off (not enough nurse bees). I figured she didn't make it.
Well, today I checked again. THERE SHE WAS! WOW! She flew off looking like a slim, little, pale Paris Hilton. She came back tanned, big and tired, looking more like Kim Kardasian. Six axe handles across the beam. A totally different young lady.
She looked up at me with a little Mona Lisa smile. She knew I knew what she had been doing. I smiled back. I got her another frame of brood and covered her up for the evening. I'll give her a baggie of syrup tomorrow. She deserves a good refreshing rest before settling in.
Sal