Last Sunday I got a swarm, and I've just been itching to open up the hive to do an inspection... but I'm not sure how long I need to wait. I really just want to see if the queen is laying good or if I should think about replacing her. Should I wait another couple weeks to open it up, or go ahead now (well, not right now, thunderstorms and all, plus it's getting late in the day, so tomorrow maybe)?
i usually wait about a week. there are exceptions...... you don't want to go in to soon and cause them to leave, but you don't want to wait to long and have a problem you can't correct. i'd say that you are safe going in now. your queen should have settled in. if you don't have one, or they are making a mess in there, you need to fix things.
I have been blessed with swarms this year. I found that if placed on some drawn comb she will start laying in about a week. If placed on bare foundation, it took mine about two weeks.
Those swarms are some wax building machines!
Steve