Re: 1st year questions

I'm only 5 years at this, so you'll get better advice from others but
2 laying workers seems strange to me.  Did they swarm or abscond?  Did
you find empty queen cells?  Why do think they swarmed?  Overcrowded? 
Even with a swarm I've always had lots of bees left (since only half
the hive leaves).  It's true it takes a while for the new queen to
have her mating flight & start laying.  Did you feed the nucs like
crazy to get some foundation built up for 'em?  At 5 years I've had
several swarms (and sometimes not known it 'til later) but I've never
had to combine hives.