Bees in a can

[Kirk-o]

I went and got some bees off a guys property last week these bees were in a old 5 gallon honey can.I put a five gallon paint strainer over the can were the bees went in and out and then took them to my bee yard.I cut them out of the can and put them in a new hive.I went to check them and they were over run with ants.The bees were clustered on the outside of the box.I scoped them up and put them in a new box with drawn comb and put them up on a old chair to keep them up away from the ants.I went to check them this afternoon and they weren't in the box but had moved to this nuc I had got from Dee Lusby.You could see them fighting a little and some dead bees but they were moving in.I think maybe the queen expired during all the comotion of cutting out the ants and being put in a second box I don't know.Anyone else see bees move into another active hive before?
kirko

[pdmattox]

Maybe African bees?

[Kathyp]

last year, but it was after they had been queenless for a bit.  several weeks, i think.  when i realized that most had drifted to another hive, i just combined  what was left and that seemed to work.  at least i saved some.

[TwT]

I have seen a hive in a 5 gallon bucket, it was upside down and had a crack in the side and they moved in and had filled it with comb...

[JP]

Kirko, when you did the transfer did you add honeycomb along with broodcomb into the new hive? I do not advise this. I only add the broodcomb when doing a transfer as the bees are usually stressed when you do a cut out and are not able to properly tend to the honeycomb, which leads to unwanted invasions from ants and wax moth, although I do spray all combs with Certan, which cuts way back on the wax moth issue. The bees were trying to survive and the ants forced them elsewhere, that is why I never transfer honeycomb.

[Kirk-o]

Hey thats a good idea on not putting in the honey comb when you cut out I'm going to remember that
thank you
kirko