Performed a log cut-out last weekend that went very well. The bees were hived and kept at a friends place for the past week (the cut-out was done at his place).
Friday evening, the hive was deliverd to my property and all seemed well. I happened to notice yesterday morning that there were very few, if any, bees at the entrace to the hive and no bees coming or going.
During the afternoon I took a peek in the hive and 3/4 of the bees were gone! I also noticed that the bees in my other hive (very active and healthy) were quite beside themselves that I was in the vicinity and made it known that they wanted me to leave (after being stung five times, I decided to listen to them).
Did I do something wrong? Did my hive swarm? Are the bees remaining in the hive from my other hive and they're just robbing what the other bees left behind?
We never were sure if we got the queen on the cut-out but we did find eggs and capped brood (which was placed in folding frames and put into their new home).
Any ideas?
Rick