Frames in bait hive

[Zante]

I'm using an old (very old, pre-varroa) brood box as bait hive. It's got a solid floor, non removable. Indeed... a box.
I have put one super frame in there, old wax, at least 10yo. I know a brood frame would have been better, but there's nothing worth saving in the brood frames. Wax moth has invaded the hives long ago, don't know why so much super wax was saved to be honest.

Here comes the question: from what I understand the old frame is to make it smell of bees, and I understand that, but for the rest the hive should be empty, with no foundation sheets ready for the swarm, so the bees fly around in it and assess the size.
My problem is that I can only visit the bait hives once a week or so, and I don't want to have the box full of wild comb.

What I was thinking is this: fill the box with nine new brood frames, wired, but with only a starter strip plus the smelly super frame. That way it'd be mostly empty, but I'd still be able to keep the swarm in there without any of their wax being wasted and I'd be able to rehome it in a new hive at my convenience.
What do you think?

 

[enrico]

Sounds ok to me but I would be surprised if they stuck to the plan. I always use foundation in the box without a problem.
E

 

[Zante]

What do you mean by

I would be surprised if they stuck to the plan

?

 

[enrico]

By building comb where you want them to. They have an urge to build comb and starter strips may get ignored! But you never know...
E

 

[Erichalfbee]

What I was thinking is this: fill the box with nine new brood frames, wired, but with only a starter strip plus the smelly super frame. That way it'd be mostly empty, but I'd still be able to keep the swarm in there without any of their wax being wasted and I'd be able to rehome it in a new hive at my convenience.
What do you think?

That is exactly what I do.

 

[Zante]

That is exactly what I do.

I gather the idea has merit and it works...

 

[Karsal]

I use Paynes poly nucleus hive as bait hives. One or two frames of any sort of drawn comb along with the rest of the frames of foundation and a little swarm attractant. Two swarms last year in two days in same location.