Hello,
I have a question just double checking I have a swarm in a trap it's been in the trap for a week now, I looked into it tonight and found about 2 frames of bees and no queen, there looks to be a queen cell that they are starting on, if I brush off the bees and put the frame of eggs in from a different hive will they make one of the eggs a queen? Say I have a queen and see is making a mating flight, the frame of eggs I put in will just help them grow, not effect them right.
Did the swarm arrive in the trap themselves? Rare that they would be without a queen, but not rare that you wouldn't be able to spot her, especially if she's a virgin. If they arrived on their own, leave them alone for another 3 weeks. If it's something you harvested, give more info. And to answer your question, yes, you can add frames with eggs...but may not be necessary depending....
Last night I took 1 frame of capped and uncapped eggs from my strong hive there were some bees on the frame when I added them in the nuc box with the swarm, I screened off the entrance so they can not get out and put a feeder in 1/3 honey 2/3 water they drank about half . Tonight I was going to take the screen off and reduce the entrance after dark, and continue feeding for just 1 day and then taking the feeder out tomorrow night.
I forgot there is no Queen in the swarm it's been a couple days now that I have been checking and no sign of her. Tomorrow will be 2 weeks for the swarm in the trap
There had to be a queen or there wouldn't have been a swarm. Virgin queens are smallish, not much bigger than a worker. She may be in there but she's hiding from you. If there isn't a virgin or mated queen now but there are eggs and small larva on the frame you added, you should see queen cells in a day or two. If there is a virgin or mated queen you won't see queen cells. Flower planter makes a good point.
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