newbie beekeeping
Hey guys, i know many of you keep bees so I thought I'd ask this question here since I can't seem to get the beekeeping forum to work for me (technical difficulties on my side.)
Anyways I caught a swarm today, they were starting a hive in the walls of my house while I was in the middle of siding. Anyway I found the major cluster of them, swept them in a box and put them into a beebox which my neighbor so graciously lent me (the smoker and suit too). I know very little about keeping bees, ok next to nothing. I heard that if the bees are fanning that means the queen is here, is this true? Because the bees were fanning. My neighbor gave up after loosing his bees 2/3 years. Should I have done something to clean them? Also which box or boxes of frames should I use in this case. He gave me one he called a deep and one smaller. The bees are in the smaller one now.
Any comments or suggestions on where to place my new box, and info on winterizing would be good too.
I know my chances here in western NY are slim to none that they will survive but if there is what would you suggest. If nothing else I got to do something I've always wanted, maybe next year I could start new. Thanks guys.
2019- RO
2018- 25 taps made 8 gal syrup.
2017- 25 taps -built a 2x3 flat pan, and a fuel tank arch for it. 335 gal 7.34gal syrup.
2016- 15 taps, 4.3gal syrup boiling on cinderblock arch 3 roasting pans, 1 redneck trash can with a pot, and a turkey fryer.
2015- 4 taps 44 gals of sap made 2.25 gal of lite syrup.