A little help please

[JRS]

I,ve recently removed bees from a wall of a house,tring to start a colony of my own,I removed the combs and placed them into frames and secured them with rubberbands.Then I left the box for a number of hours and went back. Most of the bees were in the hive I built (or on it one)and I moved it to in,s final resting place.Waiting a few more hours I went back and more bees were there than before so dark now I went home.The next afternoon I returned and there were only 2 dozen bees in or around the hive.??? No honey, no bees,NOTHING.Any ideas?

[Brian D. Bray]

It is not uncommon for bees from a cutout to abscond afterward.  They seem to prefer their original surroundings.  Doing cutouts is one of three times I recommend using a queen excluder.  Place it between the box and the bottom board to retain the queen, which keeps the bees in the hive.