Absconding Bees

To house the beautiful prime swarm we caught at Cordwood I bought a new hive- delivery was promised in 48 hours, which seemed fine- time to build it and get the swarm settled in before they began to feel the pinch. However, it was not to be- Yodel's 48 hour delivery turned into a week and although the suppliers kindly sent another (which arrived by TNT before the Yodel) the bees had had enough of being cramped in and set off to find a new home. Most annoying of all is that it was only a day too late! Better news of the little cluster of bees I collected from under the hive and the cast that came from the same hive as the prime swarm- both have settled in the nucs - one already laying, the other hopefully with the weather turning fair not far behind. The 3 hives we have artificially swarmed are doing well, but the other halves of these with the virgin queens have yet to start laying- the bad weather will probably have delayed them taking a mating flight so slightly anxious times until we know what is happening there.