Catching swarms

[Sniper338]

If you catch a small swarm, say the size of your fist, or two fist...   do you raise them out in a nuc box or a full size deep hive body?  I assume once the queen starts laying population can grow fast, however i would assume a nuc box size would better suit them starting out...

Then from bee classes it was said its best to requeen a swarm as swarm queens are older anyways and its best to you a new good gentle queen in

[stanisr]

The simple answer is yes. Place the swarm in a box that best fits the size of the swarm. But the opening is as important, as the bees have to be able to guard their entrance as well.

[Dallasbeek]

SOME swarm queens are past their prime.  The first swarm cast by a hive usually has the "old" queen, but she may be only one year old.  Some hives cast multiple swarms, sometimes with virgin queens.  Why not wait and see how a particular queen performs.  Of course, people selling queens may not agree with that.

[iddee]

Unless there is a 1/2 gallon or more bees, I would combine them with another hive. They aren't worth nursing along and hope they build up.If they came from a healthy hive, there should be at least that many bees in a swarm.  In a good size swarm, I would never replace a queen until she gives me reason. She is most likely 1 year old and the second year is as good as the first. She also came from a strong hive that made it through the winter. She may have resistant genes that you want to keep.

[wadehump]

I also don't replace queens. Let the bees be themselves they overwintered and came from a hive that was strong enough for them to swarm

[sc-bee]

Short answer..... bees most always build up quicker in a box with only the amount of space they need.

[Michael Bush]

The right amount of space is always best.
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesspace.htm