Hive cutout from tree.. Now what?

[kedgel]

I cut a big hive off of a tree limb and put the combs in a brood box.  I took 5 frames with me, but there was so much comb, I ended up with only 2 in the box.  I laid the comb in trying to stand it up, but it mostly slid down flat.  I had one that was so big I couldn't fit it in the box, so I just laid it in the bed of my truck until I got it home.  By the time I got home and set up the hive, it was getting dark.  I went out the next morning and cut down the big comb and attached it to a frame with rubber-bands stretched around and looped to nails.  I kept the entrance blocked on the bottom, laid down an excluder to keep the queen from swarming off before they settled in, and put the brood comb and the rest of the frames in another brooder above the excluder.  I put the lid on slightly askew to allow the workers to come and go. Anything I didn't that I should have, or didn't that I should?  Also, is it better to get the combs mounted in frames right away, or not disturb them for a few days to let them settle in?

[hankdog1]

I'd put those in frames ASAP especially if a flow is on.  If you wait too long like a week your gonna go in there and find that the bees have attached the comb to the inside of the box.  Just curious why don't you close the top and put the queen excluder over the entrance?  Probably serve the same purpose but that's what me and my buddy does to keep the queen from taking off.  Hope there was no brood in the comb you left in the back of the truck and fixed the next day though as they can get chilled and die.

[Joelel]

I cut a big hive off of a tree limb and put the combs in a brood box.  I took 5 frames with me, but there was so much comb, I ended up with only 2 in the box.  I laid the comb in trying to stand it up, but it mostly slid down flat.  I had one that was so big I couldn't fit it in the box, so I just laid it in the bed of my truck until I got it home.  By the time I got home and set up the hive, it was getting dark.  I went out the next morning and cut down the big comb and attached it to a frame with rubber-bands stretched around and looped to nails.  I kept the entrance blocked on the bottom, laid down an excluder to keep the queen from swarming off before they settled in, and put the brood comb and the rest of the frames in another brooder above the excluder.  I put the lid on slightly askew to allow the workers to come and go. Anything I didn't that I should have, or didn't that I should?  Also, is it better to get the combs mounted in frames right away, or not disturb them for a few days to let them settle in?

I would have just shook be bees into a hive with frames ane put them in a feeder,lock them in a day and let them start over building new comb and all.

[G3farms]

When ever you do a cut out the brood and bees need to be re-united as soon as possible. The bees will cover the brood and keep it at just the right temperature. Leaving the brood comb just laying in the back of you truck could have killed all of it from chilling, overheating or maybe even starving. When you do a cut out, cut the comb out and put in the frames as you go. Keep the comb turned upright just as it was oriented before. This might be one piece of comb or several smaller pieces, don't worry the bees will fix everything. You are going to loose some of the brood and honey since not every piece will fit, but again, don't worry about it. Try to cut the combs to where you have the most brood to put into the frames, the bees will attach it in a week or so. Might need to feed them sugar water to help get them started back off, depends on how the flow is in your area.

Hope this helps.

G3

[Kathyp]

I would have just shook be bees into a hive with frames ane put them in a feeder,lock them in a day and let them start over building new comb and all

you want to preserve as much brood as you can.  it helps settle the hive and the makings of a new queen may be in there if you missed or damaged the old one.  prepare your frames with rubberbands before hand.  then as you remove brood, band it into the frames and put them in the box.  that way, you don't have a lot of messing with it to do when you get home.  you can just set up the hive, feed them if they need it, and leave them alone for a bit.