topping up small nuc / mating nucs.

[greengumbo]

I rescued a recently mated queen from an mating nuc the other day that was very weak after robbing. I don't need this queen right now and have yet to see how she performs so I wanted to keep her. I stuck her in a cage and popped her, alongside a shake of bees, inside a 3 frame obs hive I have spare (only hive I had spare....I'm re-using the mating nuc for cells). Can I add a frame of brood and further shakes of bees to top them up ? Do I do an introduction as usual (remove tab after 3 days ?).

[Jon]

Use plenty of smoke when mixing bees and introduce as normal. 3 days is probably overdoing it. It is a lot easier to get a queen accepted in a small nuc than a bigger colony.