will a hive swarm before queen cells are capped?

[Yankee11]

Have you ever had them swarm before queen cells are capped?

[LazyBkpr]

I cant actually tell..  It is possible the old queen left before the cell was capped, but by the time I looked the next day that capping was done and the queen gone.
 

[Yankee11]

That hive I found Saturday with the swarm cells uncapped. I saw eggs in frames. I tore down the queen cells and could not find her.

Today, there were more cells built and some emergency cells, higher up and in middle of frames. I didn't see any more eggs in frames and I have had a queen excluder on entrance since Sat. So I am guessing she left right before I found them on Saturday. Uncapped cells.

[LazyBkpr]

I would say you have some pretty good evidence that the queen CAN leave before they are capped. That, or something happened to her.

[tefer2]

I don't think there is a rule that they wait until the cell is capped to swarm.
When I see a glistening in the bottom of a queen cup, that's my sign to do something then.
Have had to many take off while goofing around trying to stop them.
So, did you place the "swarm bandit" on them when you saw the cells?

[Yankee11]

The next day.

But seeing the new cell in the middle of the frames tells me she was already gone when I saw and smashed the first cells. They were drawn down about half way out.

I have looked through this have about 4 times. I should have found her by now.

I will have to try out the swarm bandit on one that it going to swarms and I actually see the queen. I'm sure I'll have the opportunity soon.