Another Newbie, Swarm Question

[cybernut39]

Hi, as a newbie, I ordered and built my hive and frames. Then waited to order bees, well I did not know that I should have placed my order so early in the year. So bees sold out fast. I put my hive away and thought I would try next year. Well I walked out side one afternoon to see a swarm hanging directly above the spot I wanted to put the hive (must have been a sign). I got my bottom board, one deep hive body with ten frames, inner cover and top. Cut the branch set it on the frames, waited about one hour, looked like they went inside and put the inner cover and top on. It has been about ten days, so I opened up the hive and there is comb being drawn on the five frames to the right only, it would be the north side, not the sunny side. Is this normal? My entrance reducer is on the right also. I could not see the queen but hopping she is there. Other questions I have are (1) Should I medicated now and if so for what? (2) When should I put on second deep? (3)Does a swarm leave with a new queen or the old queen? and should I re-queen? I have soooo many questions but I will start with those above. Thank you for any help.

[Steel Tiger]

 Typically, primary swarms leave with the old queen. It seems to me that the bees will first drawn brood comb in the area the queen is hanging around at. I guess that's why most people introduce a caged queen in the middle of the brood box. Since the bees stayed and are building, it's likely the queen is in there. Give them another week then search for brood. As far as medication, someone else would be much better letting you know. It would help to know whereabouts you are so they'll know what kinds of pest you may be facing.
Congrates on the bees.

[GSF]

What luck!

Update your profile and add your location. A lot of bee related questions are location specific. I have only had bees for about a year. Presuming that they swarmed for good reasons I wouldn't medicate them. I think they get the medicine head syndrome just like us. I'll let someone with more experience answer your question. With your location in your profile someone may know if there's anything around your area you need to be concerned with. Good luck.

[AliciaH]

Congratulations, what a catch!

I agree that that's probably where the queen was hanging out.  Next time you go in, push the frames over one spot (towards the middle) and rotate a frame with new foundation onto the outer edge.  They'll draw it out.  I do this a lot with hives working the sunny side, should work for you, too.

In my case, I don't worry about medicating swarms.  I will monitor them, however, as I don't know what their history is.  Normally, it's just how many varroa they may have brought with them.

The general rule for adding a second deep is when the first is about 70%.  Swarms are pretty motivated.  They've already been in there for 10 and drawing on 5 frames?  I'd do a quick check for space in another 5 days and be prepared to add the second deep then.

Good luck!

[marktrl]

Bees like to keep their brood nearer to the opening, since your opening is to the right the brood is to the right. They can better control temps near the opening.
As for your other questions watch this:
Sam Comfort

[cybernut39]

Thank you everyone, for your replies.

[jayj200]

must of been a sign from above
just keep watching them sounds like their off to a good start.
when we got mine it boomed
as the frames fill to about 80% of frames add another box.
every hive is different some as little as 3 weeks others take months to fill the frames.
jay

[Diogenes]

And then there are the swarms that build and fill 9 frames of foundation with honey in 10 days (they reserved the one old brood comb for the queen). Helps to have a something blooming (clover). I was only going to check that the queen was settled in and had to add a deep of foundation. Nice problem tho.

[Switchback]

I sure hope you bought a lotto ticket. Talk about luck. The bees came to you. I would tell you good luck but it looks like you have plenty of it now. Enjoy the bees.

[cybernut39]

Yes I did buy a lotto ticket, I had no luck with that :) I am enjoying my honey bees though. I should have started beekeeping years ago. Thanks everyone for your help. Bees have been working on second brood box. I think they will need first honey super, by the end of the week. Loads of clover around here.

[Switchback]

Looks like your off to a great start. Sorry about the lotto ticket.