Hoping to learn lots on this forum. My mail carrier told me her sub was a beekeeper and gave me his card. He was doing the rounds today, so I was waiting to talk to him near my mailbox. While standing there I spotted a lot of insect activity. Wandered over to inspect it and found a lovely large swam about 4 feet off the ground in a pine tree. Ran and got a box, shook the swarm into it and then managed to get the box shaken into a 10 hive box with about 5 or 6 frames in it.
Needless to say, I missed the mailman who I was going to ask to mentor me in beekeeping,and I now have a deep hive box with a bunch of bees in it. The frames are kind of kitty wumpass and I would love to put the rest of the frames in it, but I don't know what to do at this point. I tried earlier today to open the lid and when I did, hundreds of bees swarmed out. I replaced the lid and eventually they all went back in.
It is now dark, and I have moved the hive up to close to where I would ultimately want it, but I don't know how or when I should try and put the rest of the frames in. There is no comb on the frames in the hive, just foundation and there is no food in there for them. Please advise what I should do so that I don't lose them and also so that I don't cause them any harm or starve them. The hive is currently closed with the opening blocked.