Vosse- ""I thought it would help to give them sugarwater so I went back and gave them 2L of 1:1. 2 Days later I went to check if they settled in and the hive was completely empty of bees, only the frames and foundation were left and untouched. My teacher said it was because I fed them too fast. No idea why that caused them to leave..""
I would like to know why your instructor teaches that. I've noticed that if I keep them in the hive for a couple of days without feeding... then set them out, that they don't take the syrup for a couple of more days, then they gobble it up.
Also, LazyBkpr suggested that when I put a swarm in a box, to add a frame of brood (if you have it), this works like a anchor to give the bees something to take care of while closed up in the hive. I do also put an excluder under the bottom deep for 3-4 days to keep the queen in place. So far, it has worked in the swarm hives. But I never know from day to day what I'm gonna find next
Slow- ""You might consider keeping them closed up in the box for a couple of days to become acquainted with their new home. Or I've heard of people putting a queen excluder under the box so that the workers can come and go, but the queen will stay, and this keeps the hive from absconding. I haven't tried either one, so these are only suggestions.""
This system seems to work for me, so far. In the closed up hive, the bees ball up under the lid and around the queen and get closely connected with her pheromones. Then is there is an added frame of brood the bees will want to take care of it during that time of enclosure.
