You made some mistakes but not all that bad for the first time. That 10 frame box is enough space for them for awhile. Some tips that may help you in the future: Set up your new hive like you did the a day or two before you are planning on transferring them and set the swarm box on top of it. Have the entrance of the swarm box right above the entrance of the new hive. They will orient to that spot. Then when you go to transfer them just set the swarm box to the side of the hive and do the work from the side or back of the hive so you are not standing in the flight path of the bees. When you take the top off the swarm box lay it right in front of the hive entrance. Bees locate by smell and will be attracted to it and the entrance of your hive. Once you have transferred the frames to the new hive you can dump the remaining bees like you did only make sure you are lined up with the hive. After dumping the bees from the box set it several feet away and smoke the inside of the box to get any remaining bees airborne and to reduce the smell of the box attracting bees back to it. Put the inner cover and outer cover on your hive and let them settle in. It gets simpler once you do it a few times. Good luck.
Thanks for the info. Did a hive inspection yesterday. All 10 frames drawn out. Lots of capped brood, eggs and larvae. Found the queen. Medium super on top of of brood box is rapidly being filled with nectar. I fear if I don't put another deep brood box on I'm going to be in trouble in a couple of weeks.
They never looked pissed to me. You moved them from high to low that's why they were high up on your back. Half past 10 is too late for moving them. Should be at dawn or dusk. I also wouldn't bother with a super. Give them time to build that hive out before giving them too much room.
You made some mistakes but not all that bad for the first time. That 10 frame box is enough space for them for awhile. Some tips that may help you in the future: Set up your new hive like you did the a day or two before you are planning on transferring them and set the swarm box on top of it. Have the entrance of the swarm box right above the entrance of the new hive. They will orient to that spot. Then when you go to transfer them just set the swarm box to the side of the hive and do the work from the side or back of the hive so you are not standing in the flight path of the bees. When you take the top off the swarm box lay it right in front of the hive entrance. Bees locate by smell and will be attracted to it and the entrance of your hive. Once you have transferred the frames to the new hive you can dump the remaining bees like you did only make sure you are lined up with the hive. After dumping the bees from the box set it several feet away and smoke the inside of the box to get any remaining bees airborne and to reduce the smell of the box attracting bees back to it. Put the inner cover and outer cover on your hive and let them settle in. It gets simpler once you do it a few times. Good luck.
Thanks for the info. Did a hive inspection yesterday. All 10 frames drawn out. Lots of capped brood, eggs and larvae. Found the queen. Medium super on top of of brood box is rapidly being filled with nectar. I fear if I don't put another deep brood box on I'm going to be in trouble in a couple of weeks.
The way they were balled up on your upper back I figured the queen was there, hope it turns out well for you.
I was thinking the same thing
According to my bee mentor they don't believe so. There would have been many more bees in that cluster.
They never looked pissed to me. You moved them from high to low that's why they were high up on your back. Half past 10 is too late for moving them. Should be at dawn or dusk. I also wouldn't bother with a super. Give them time to build that hive out before giving them too much room.