[Matt_inSC]

Large swarm hived - frame orientation approach?

We caught a very large swarm yesterday. They're covering two 8 frame medium boxes (we run all 8 frame medium hives) pretty well. We initially captured them in an 8 frame medium box with 7 frames of foundation and one frame of drawn comb. We then added a second box of drawn comb on top and added a feeder (didn't want to disturb the lower box in which we captured them) on day one but I'd have preferred to have the drawn comb below and foundation above.
We checked the hive this afternoon and they'd consumed all of the syrup (probably 1.5 gallons) and stored it all in the upper box of drawn comb. We re-oriented the frames as checkerboard - alternating drawn comb and empty foundation - in both boxes with the hopes they'll get going on drawing comb.
Any thoughts on that approach? We haven't done the checkerboarding method but thought it may be a good way to start them off on drawing comb.

 

[odfrank]

Shake them off the comb and onto all all foundation.

 

[Matt_inSC]

Shake them off the comb and onto all all foundation.

So no comb in the hive (let them make their own), right?
And feed them or not? Other hives in the yard are bringing in some nectar but it’s early for our main flow yet.

 

[odfrank]

You can leave one drawn comb for the queen to start laying in. But a large swarm on a flow can draw out a box in a few days. Feeding is fine but might not be needed.
If they have only foundation they have to work on it.

Shake them off the comb and onto all all foundation.

So no comb in the hive (let them make their own), right?
And feed them or not? Other hives in the yard are bringing in some nectar but it’s early for our main flow yet.

 

[rwlaw]

Yup, swarms are comb drawing machines, let them make some drawn frames for you.

 

[Amibusiness]

Depending on how long your flow is you can get honey off a swarm if you give them comb. What you "should" do now depends on what your goals are for this colony. What is your goal?
Checkerboarding is a technical term that means alternating empty comb with capped honey (Walt Right) as a method for swarm control and colony build up.

 

[fieldsofnaturalhoney]

Shake them off the comb and onto all all foundation.

I wouldn’t work backwards, & there is still plenty of time for them to draw comb for you if that is your goal?