I'm a second year beekeeper with 2 hives of Italians. I was planning on splitting my strongest hive this spring but wanted to wait until I could get a new queen from my supplier - well 3 days before I got my new queen, the hive swarmed. Immediate inspection of the hive revealed only a slight reduction in population, but no eggs and no brood and several open swarm cells. So I did not split but closed it up and checked it today a week later. Still no eggs and I can't find a queen. So either the colony is queenless or the new queen has not started laying yet. This colony is still very strong and active (lot of activity - bees coming and going - bringing in pollen) and they are making a lot of honey. I suspect there is a new quuen that I just can't find. Would this colony still be this productive without a queen? I plan on waiting another week and if still no eggs then I will requeen. Also, the original queen supplied with this colony last year was clipped, so she couldn't have left with the swarm. Does a newly hatched queen ever leave with a swarm, leaving the original queen behind?