New bees

[Ozone]

Obviously I am new to bee keeping.  And posting here.  :)     I captured most of a swarm a week ago.  I left a borrowed hive under the tree to attract most of the bees.  I began researching bees.  After one day I knew a lot more than I ever have about bees.  After two days of researching, I realized that I knew so little that I am embarrased.  We have had A LOT of rain.   After a sunny day,  I moved the hive about 1/2 mile to my "permanent" location.  I blocked the entrance with grass, and didn't lose the bees.   I had no foundation.  I opened the hive today, and saw comb being built.  I MAY have seen the queen, but am not sure.   In one of the comb's, there were a very few dark bottomed cavities.  I didn't check them all. 

Again, pollen gathering conditions have been very poor.

There are a few bees still on a branch,  NEAR where these came from.  They have been there since a few hours after I caught the others.  They are above (20 feet) the place the hive sat for 4 days.  The majority of the bees remained in the hive.

Besides waiting too long, are there any indicators that I have a queen? 

Why would those bees remain at that limb?

Thanks!

[Kathyp]

if she were in the branch, they would be in the branch.  if there is nothing for them to gather, feed them. i feed swarms anyway for a few days.  watch for them to be bringing in pollen.  they find it even when you don't think there is any. 

[AllenF]

Take the bees on the limb to the hive.   And feed that hive for a bit to help them out a little.

[CapnChkn]

Welcome to the Monkey house!  I assume the bees were caught close to where you are keeping the hive.  Mostly, they think the hive is still there if this is the case.  If you can't cut the branch, like AllenF says, you could put a container of some kind; from a cardboard box to something more elaborate.  Put it there around dusk, and take the bees to the hive.

Make sure there's some way to totally enclose the container, they DO NOT like to be disturbed at dark.  When the bees smell the home hive, they'll go inside.  Michael Bush has details somewhere on his extremely informative website.

http://www.bushfarms.com/bees.htm