Caught my first swarm

[kmartin]

A few days ago I successfully caught my first swarm. (probably from my own hive though). I have a couple of questions;

1) Once in the box, is it normal to see more entrance activity than on established hives?
2) Does the fact that the majority of bees have remained in the box mean that I successfully got the queen?

[hfrysinger]

1. Probably, after awhile. Once they first get in, they get very busy building comb and getting ready for eggs to be laid. If it is a fresh swarm, then they still have lots of honey they can use to build wax. If not so fresh, they need to go out and get some.
2. Yes. If they don't like the new hive, you find out quickly - they head out.

[iddee]

Yes, and Yes.
First, they are taking orientation flights, to learn the new area.

Secondly, If the queen isn't in the box, they will normally make a mass exodus.

[riverrat]

When hiving a swarm watch the landing board on the front of the hive. If the queen is in there there should be bees fanning at the entrance spreading pheromones to let the other bees know qhere the queen is.