D,
This hive tried to swarm on July 19, 2012, per my log. I had had the q excluder in frame the week before because the 3 deep frame ob hive was busting and I was going out of town for the week. They swarmed the day after I got back. My wife was in the house and heard them taking off. I put a swarm box next to the opening and hand scooped bees into the nuc. Then I very slowly opened the q excluder to let the q out. I took about 15 to 20 minutes to open it. I did hear a bee get crunched. The bees moved back into the OBH. I built new sides for this hive and the next Sunday I took it apart. All three frames had q cells. My wife, Judy, said she wanted the one with 2 q cells for "her hive". I rebuilt the hive, put that frame next to a deep foundation with the 6 mediums above it. We watched this q develope. She is only 7 months old.
David,
Build the nicest hive you can and she will come to love it. I made mine out of solid walnut. It helps. It is a major conversation piece. Every one that visits has to see it.
Jim