Hi- I'm a new beekeeper

Got a nuc this spring. Put it in 8 frame box with pollen patty and 1:1 in top feeder.  About two weeks ago I put a 2nd box on. Seemed like there were a lot of bees.  Today I went in to check the progress. A little nectar and comb built out on only one frame in the center of top box. Took a peek below at a undrawn frame I had put in between two old frames below. Wanted to see the progress. It has what looks like queen cells to me. There were about 6-8 of them and maybe two of them were closed up. Did I not get the top box on in time and they felt crowded? The Q cells are not hanging off the bottom like I've read swarm cells are supposed to, but they are hanging off the bottom of the comb they've built on that new frame thus far. See photos below.

It did not seem like there were less bees in there than other times, so I don't think they've swarmed yet. But there has been lots of extra activity in the front. I assumed there was some robbing attempts going on so I've mostly had the entrance on the smallest hole. 

Comments? Suggestions? Anything to do or just let it play out? I do have swarm boxes baited in another side yard.  I'm pretty bummed. Won't this set the hive back a lot? I'm reading bee books everyday to learn (by Sammataro and Flottum) but there is nothing like seeing it play out in your own yard. 

Thanks!

Hi there,

Are you inspecting for eggs, larvae and brood?  Queen cells on the face of the comb MAY be supersedure cells, suggesting you may have a failing or missing queen: https://www.google.com/search?q=supersedure+cells&oq=supercedure&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j0l7.6542j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

As you describe brood in the frames it is the classic look of a hive with laying workers.  It is nearly impossible to save the hive.  You can try to combine with another hive.  I recommend taking the hive away from it's current location, if possible several hundred feet and shake all the bee on the ground and bush the rest off the frames an put these frame in a covered box.  The bees will return to the hive location but with no hive after an evening they will be gone.  Some will join your other hive(s) and some will be lost.   If you have empty frames in other hives you can switch them with the drawn frame otherwise store the frame in a well covered box.  If possible put them in a freezer ever several weeks to prevent wax moth.

Thanks for the info. I went ahead and shook all the bees off this morning. Then I was able to really examine the comb. All the scattered brood was being capped like drones and there were lots of cells with  more than one egg in it. So that should confirm that it was a laying worker right? The swarm cells were from over a month ago, May 16. So if I was going to have a queen she should have be getting going by now.  Anyways, as I said I already shook the bees off a football field or two away. I'm excited to give the built out comb with pollen and honey to my other hive. How should I prepare that before giving it to them? Freeze it for a day to kill drone larva? Should I scrape off the drone caps? And is there any particular spot I should put these new frames in the hive? Should I replace them with the combs on the outer edge that aren't built up yet? Thanks