What does the queen do before there is any honey comb to receive eggs?

This past weekend, I installed a new package of bees in my top bar hive and I've been delighted to watch the bees do their thing (and terrified that I'm doing something wrong that will endanger their survival).

The queen is in her little box with the candy, and I know that it will take the workers a few days to free her. But because this is a brand new hive with no foundation, I think it will take a while longer than that to draw enough comb to lay eggs in.

So I am wondering: what does the queen do until some comb is ready for her?

And more practically: what happens if the workers from the package can't draw enough comb before they age out and die, and there aren't new workers hatched yet? I assume the whole colony fails. Other than feeding syrup (which I am doing), what can I do to help them establish the needed comb and prevent this kind of disaster?

Take a deep breath, relax. Bees have been doing this for thousands of years. They know how to do this.

You got a package of bees, yes? That is 3 pounds of bees equaling 10,000 bees. This is how much a small swarm of estimated (I think they said) 2500 bees in 10 days. Your size colony would have 4 times that amount.

Don't panic. I suppose what you fear is possible but the odds are very much against it. I've never heard of it happening. Even assuming none of the workers have active wax glands when you installed them (not likely) they would adjust rapidly. Then it's full speed ahead. It's amazing how fast they can build comb. Check to make sure the queen has been released in a few days. She's driving the ship. There's nothing else you can do to help except make sure she gets released.

Okay, I am reassured then. Thank you!

I've poked a camera in there but they're all clustered together and I can't see anything except bees. Maybe comb is starting to form under there. I guess I'll know more soon. But I feel better hearing that it's probably okay.