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Why do colonies appear to build up so well after a shook swarm?

You'll regularly hear comments like 'they roared away'. At least with strong colonies, sufficient nectar (or syrup), and enough warmth for comb-building, this is certainly my impression.

And not just shook swarms; there are few more productive things — at least in terms of comb building and brood rearing — than a recently hived swarm.

Is it wishful thinking?

Are we — perhaps always wanting to see the best in our bees — misled about the apparently rapid development of the new brood nest. If we did a shook swarm, maybe this positive impression helps assuage our guilt over putting the colony through the 'stress' of starting from a blank sheet (of foundation) again {{1}}.

In response to a comment from regular reader Archie I suggested that the laying rate of the queen might increase after a shook swarm. This would result in greater brood production than in a similar colony not subjected to a shook swarm.

I don't know if the laying rate does increase, but I can think of why it might.

Which got me thinking about other reasons a shook swarm might do so well.