Help needed

[fruitloop0709]

My big colony have just started to swarm and landed under their hive. I went to box them up and have left the box under the hive but they seem to be going back into the original hive.

I've just opened up the original hive and found 5 sealed Queen cells I obviously missed. I can't see any eggs.

Should I make a split now? I can't find the Queen, although this is not unusual. Would it be ok to move a few frames one of which with QC into a nuc?

 

[enrico]

Is your queen clipped?
If not it sounds as though they are going back to the hive because the queen is still in there.
They will likely have another go to tomorrow or in the next few days.
Yes you can make a nuc up with one of the queen cells and a frame of food etc. It is a way of splitting a hive.
I would suggest you remove all but one queen cell from your hive that swarmed.
If the queen is lost then at least you haven't burnt your bridges!
E

 

[fruitloop0709]

Ok I'll make up a nuc. I have to keep it the same apairy though. Will any bees I shake in just go back to the original hive?

Also if I leave a queen cell, won't the original hive just swarm again if she is in fact there?

 

[fruitloop0709]

Sorry I forgot to answer, no sure is not clipped.

 

[drex]

Ok I'll make up a nuc. I have to keep it the same apairy though. Will any bees I shake in just go back to the original hive?
?

A light shake over the main colony will dislodge the flying bees, then a firm shake over the nucs will dislodge the nurses, who are more likely to stay put. I usually shake in an extra three frames worth, which provides more than ample