Hi all,
Here in central lower Michigan Sweet Clover just started blossoming this
week and I will be pulling supers from 3 hives so I can extract and get them
back on to be cleaned up and in one case to, hopefully take advantage of the
3 acres of Buckwheat I planted.  Our weather has been strange as well.  Lots
of rain for a while, now it is so dry that everyone is watering their garden
daily.

I had had to deal with some swarming hives this year.  On Tuesday I
recovered 2 swarms, both of which have settled into their new hives with no
trouble. I found a 3rd small swarm had taken up residence in some equipment
in my barn.  I gave them a bottom board an inner and outer cover and left
them where they were.  I found the queen.  She is small, but since the swarm
was so small, it was probably an after swarm with a virgin queen.  She is
laying-I found eggs and brood.  My question, what is the timeframe from
swarm with a virgin queen to eggs/brood.  Our weather has been good for
mating flights-sunny and no rain and not too windy.  Both swarms are pulling
syrup at about 2-3 quarts a day.  I am feeding 1:1-should this be heavier
for drawing comb?  This is my first experience with swarms.  Also, the hives
the swarms came from-how long before I should expect to see eggs/brood?

Everyone's help is greatly appreciated.

Coleene