If storing for 7 to 10 days suggest making up a queenless nuc and place
the queen cages in a frame and placing the frame into the nuc. Thinking
of an article in either Bee Culture or ABJ, one beekeeper successfully
kept queens in such a set up for a few weeks at a time and would take
the nuc around his sites, extracting a queen cage as necessary. If I was
doing it, I would take frames with open brood, and therefore young hive
bees to place in the nuc and maybe shake young bees into the nuc.  These
bees will likely be more accepting of queens. I would set up the nuc,
leave it overnight and then place the frame with cages in the next
morning. To be safe, I would ensure that the queens could keep out of
harm's way inside the cage. Eg. If it is a plastic cage open on both
sides, I would put some tape one side. If placing the cages back to
back, place a piece of something (thin aluminium works well) between the
cages. Can't remember whether the nuc was flying or non-flying, probably
non-flying. Others more experienced will tell you whether to take out
the attendants or not!

Simon and Sarah Peacey,
Wairua Apiaries,
76 Malone Rd,
R.D.9,
Whangarei, NZ
09-4346-344
021-0319-127 or129

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