Hoping I've caught a swarm

[Mikey N.C.]

Look's good,  will check in the morning.



Looked in two frames full

[Green bee]

Looks promising Mikey, I have one on the top of my shed also. Haven't seen much action though. Keep us posted!

[Barbarian]

Nice catch.
It must be a big swarm to cause the kink in the cladding.   

My home bait hive has had scouts around it all this week.  The anticipation is hard on the nerves.

[efmesch]

If, come night, you see that they have all moved in and settled down inside, I would recommend that you move the nuc to the place where you want the hive to be placed permanently.

By moving them the first night, when they learn their location in the morning, they'll settle on the place you want,  If you wait a day or more, they will have already learned their location on the roof and, unless you move them a long distance (over about 5 miles) you will lose bees in the transfer,

[Mikey N.C.]

There is a beautiful Queen , how old i don't know.  Had 1 old dark drawn frame,  1 half drawn and there she was.  Bees loaded full drawn frame with .  She's on half drawn natural comb.
I've have to leave this week. Bee's have to draw 3 an 1/2 frames you think 5 frame nuc box will be good till i get back.?

[efmesch]

If there's room for all the bees inside without spilling out (check that at night when they all should be inside), they should be just fine in the nuc.  Swarms build fast and build well but have little brood and no additional bees to accommodate for the first  three weeks.  When you come back, the new combs should be built and the queen laying nicely.  You'll probably even have areas of pollen and sealed honey.  But don't stretch your luck---once the frames are built up with combs, make sure to put them in a full sized hive.   After all, you don't want the incoming nectar to prevent the queen from having space for laying eggs. 
Once you move the family into a full=sized hive, place new frames for building just outside of the brood bearing frames, with the pollen and honey frames further out.  You want to take advantage of the swarm's propensity for drawing out combs to the maximum.

[Mikey N.C.]

The bees loaded drawn comb frame with nectar.?

[Mikey N.C.]

Move box last night. Has been 3 days fingers crossed.

[efmesch]

Since a swarm comes without and brood to care for, the maximum number of bees are available for working the fields.  As the queen starts laying eggs, the work force gradually shifts to caring for developing brood.  Whatever "supplies" have been collected in the first few days give the new hive a headstart.
I couldn't detect any activity near the entrance.  I don't think the swarm has any risk of being too big for the nuc.
I join in your hopes for a nice settling down in their new home.

[Mikey N.C.]

Not very big about 2 frames of bees. I tooj a Q-tip and rubbed some LGO on outside of box, hope that any lost bees can mabe smell it.

[Mikey N.C.]

How many bees can i lose with a 10 ' move ? I'm worried that there's not enough bees in the box. And I'll be gone all week any suggestion please advise,  i do have 2 other strong hives.

[Wandering Man]

Since a swarm comes without and brood to care for, the maximum number of bees are available for working the fields.  As the queen starts laying eggs, the work force gradually shifts to caring for developing brood.  Whatever "supplies" have been collected in the first few days give the new hive a headstart.
I couldn't detect any activity near the entrance.  I don't think the swarm has any risk of being too big for the nuc.
I join in your hopes for a nice settling down in their new home.

Thanks for this bit of insight.

[efmesch]

How many bees can i lose with a 10 ' move ? I'm worried that there's not enough bees in the box. And I'll be gone all week any suggestion please advise,  i do have 2 other strong hives.

Wait till you come home and then move them over three days in 3 foot increments.  Most probably, if you move them in one 10 foot  step, you probably won't lose too  many bees---folks on this forum like to recommend placing a branch over the exit to catch the attention of the bees as they exit the hive.  The feeling is that this way they pay attention to someting being different and re-allign. 
Remember to do the moving at night.

[Mikey N.C.]

I moved box last night. Was out watching there's some still flying around roof,  but some finding box. So keeping a close eye on it today.

[Mikey N.C.]

Update : day 6 after small swarm moved in nuc.

One of the natural drawn comb had drone cells ? Are they moving this out because they don't need it.?

[blueblood]

Nice!

[neillsayers]

One of the natural drawn comb had drone cells ? Are they moving this out because they don't need it.?

This is fascinating. I guess if they are housecleaning it must be a good sign.

[Mikey N.C.]

Update: On mother's day i moved nuc into a ten frame deep. She is already laying,  capped brood and larvae .