split swarm

[celticsur]

Hello ,I am new so I guss you can tell. I caught a swarm two weeks ago and I tried to move it 2 nights ago about 500 feet. Well about half came back so I put another hive there and they are in it, still alot of bees in the hive I moved my question is do I buy a queen for the ones that came back and do I feed them. thank you celticsur

[riverrat]

they will have to have queen to survive. Question is how many bees went back to the old location and 2nd are there enough there to survive

[celticsur]

Thank you for getting to me, The ones that came back are around 2 pounds. The ones that stayed looks like maybe a pound. I am not sure if they even have a queen. Would it be a mistake to put a queen in each
celticsur

[Michael Bush]

Why not just move the queenless bees to the new hive?

[celticsur]

Thank you
It is the new hive that does not have a queen. See I was stupid I thought I could move them at night I caught them right at the house I swep them in the hive but did not getall them after a couple they all came to the hive I left the hive there for 2 weeks then tried to move them 3 nights ago. the next day about 2 pounds came back another 2-3 pounds stayed in the hive I moved where the queen is. I am I arizona
thank you for the help celticsur

[LBEE]

Do you have another hive? If so, you can take a frame of brood with eggs in the one you know is queenless or put a frame in both parts of the swarm. The one (or perhaps both) which needs to raise a queen will do so. If you do not have a frame (or two) see if you can find a local beekeeper who might be able to help you out by providing what you need.

[Ross]

Just take the box to the new location and shake them into the hive. Then, put a branch in front of the hive entrance and don't put a box at the old location.