It has been 9 days since we installed our package. I checked them on day four and the queen did escape. The bees were making comb and I thought I saw a cell partially filled with honey but I did not see the queen or any eggs. A large number of bees were feeding on the top feeder at that time.
Today, Day nine, I checked the top feeder and there were no bees feeding. There were a few bees on one of the frames and they did not seem to even be producing comb.
What happened?
Should I close up the hive and wait for next year? Or let the few bees continue in case I missed the queen?
No matter what has happened I want to continue next year.
Help.
Linda

Today, Day nine, I checked the top feeder and there were no bees feeding. There were a few bees on one of the frames and they did not seem to even be producing comb.
What happened?
Should I close up the hive and wait for next year? Or let the few bees continue in case I missed the queen?
No matter what has happened I want to continue next year.
Help.
Linda