Swarm help PLEASE!

[Caryw]

Unfortunate timing for a business trip... I did my 1st inspection of my hives on 3/21, as I had to leave for a business trip on 3/23, and wanted to make sure all was OK.  It seemed to be -- ID'd the queen, nice assortment of eggs, capped and uncapped brood.  Still in the lower deep.  Upper deep was 3/4 full with capped/uncapped honey and pollen.  Added a medium super (foundation/no drawn comb) for some room to grow.  I was pretty happy all would be OK while I was gone.

...right.

Call from my (upset, but very nice) neighbor on the 24th.  Described a swarm.  I was 3000 miles away, so I apologized and began thinking of ways to mend things...  Since, I have been made aware of at least 3 other events (after swarms, I assume).  I finally returned home last PM, too late to check things out (so we are about 8d post initial-swarm).  I opened the hive today, found 5 swarm cells (only one containing anything -- a dead larva) -- and as I was opening to inspect ANOTHER swarm began.  I brushed a mass of bees off a nearby tree and put it into an empty nuc.

Needless to say, the hive was much smaller than I remember, but still healthy (appearing, #s wise), some capped brood but no eggs, no uncapped brood. 

a)  What to do with the swarming activity?  Open daily and cut out queen cells? 
b)  Assuming either queenless hive or virgin/young queen now.  It has been warm during the day (50-60) but cold at night (38-42).  Not sure she will be able to do a mating flight if she's in there.

I DO have another hive (with queen, no problems, always very calm...) that I was going to combine with this one.  IF I combine, is it an odds game with the strongest queen surviving (or both not surviving), or will virgin/young queen (if she's there) be removed in favor of a fertile queen?

THANKS TO ANYONE WHO CAN RESPOND!  My neighbors thank you too...

[doak]

I would Take a frame of "eggs" with what brood it has on it.
Make sure the queen is not on this frame, shake the bees off into their hive and just switch that frame with an empty from the suspected queen less colony. leave alone for 5or6 days and check for any new queen cells on this new frame. If they are queen less they should build.
"Never" cut out any Queen cells from a colony that has just swarmed unless you catch it the day they swarm. Do it then (ONLY) if you are making a split from it.

One of mine swarmed about a week ago and I knew they were still full of bees.
I went the next day and found 4 queen cells.
I split and gave two Nice queen cells to each split. Lo and behold the mother hive swarmed again.
And there is still a deep on each covered with bees.
I will be checking these two Monday or Tuesday. Which will be 6or7 days.

Again, Never remove any cells from one that just  swarmed unless you can do it that day or no later than the next day.
hope this helps.
doak

[Caryw]

thanks for the advice... I really just removed (what appeared to be) old queen cells, but point taken.

And all this afterswarm activity?  Is there an end in sight??

Thanks!

[doak]

It will end some way. Don't mean to be so blunt.
Just try to get a frame of brood and eggs,(make sure it has eggs on it) in asap.
Most times when you find a frame with  few capped and a lot of young brood it will have eggs.
Or if you find the one that has the queen on it hold the frame close to the top of the other frames and gently push her onto the top and she should scoot down inside.
doak

[Brian D. Bray]

CaryW, all PNW forum members are invited to my house for a BBQ and get-to kknow-ya on August 31 (sunday of Labor Day Weekend)  consider yourself invited.  I will be PMing all those who plan to attend with directions or Post my address in the B2 for Labor Day sticky at the top of the Genral Beekeeping page.  With my address you can google a map or do mapquest.