Combining colony

[sean-a]

Had a cut-out colony which was doing well but ran out of food and half starved, but the queen was really nice and docile.
I waited for the brood to hatch out and have taken the queen out and put her in a nuc with bees from three hives, shes in a push in cage and the nuc sealed up.

The remaining bees I have put over another colony which has swarmed but has a laying queen in it and I am hoping to boost the colony.

No newspaper so I have used some insect netting which will hopefully let the bees smells mingle.
Do you thing that it will be ok to just remove the netting after a day or so or would you use newspaper?

And a second question....
How long do you think that the queen should stay in the cage?

 

[eltalia]

Newpaper does more than just block, it by nature of the fibre allows gradual
recognition/acceptance of every bee ar the coalface through antennae/mandible
contact. Nothing else can mimic that 'safe' assimilation.
The 'nuc" (sic)
Leave locked down two days, open up, release queen after 10AM next day.
You want foragers set and any new emerged bees orientated
before allowing queen out.

Bill

 

[Erichalfbee]

The idea of a push in cage is so that the queen lays some brood under it and is tended to by the nurse bees that have emerged from the emerging brood you put the cage over. So you need a few days.
Watch Mike Palmer
He posts here sometimes
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zvtuR_8sgvI

 

[sean-a]

Many thanks.
I was a bit worried because I didn't get any helpers in the cage with the queen.
There were some cells with nectar so I don't think she'll starve for a couple of days.

Better get the paper on the other hive.

 

[eltalia]

Many thanks.
I was a bit worried because I didn't get any helpers in the cage with the queen.
There were some cells with nectar so I don't think she'll starve for a couple of days.

Better get the paper on the other hive.

Bees will tend her through the cage - unless it is some micromesh or whatever!
Despite what is put about they will drink themselves, it is more the constant
grooming they require, I believe.
As many will tell you here from experience - Royalty is n0t known to
wipe it's own ar5e easily. Heh

Bill

 

[Erichalfbee]

********
Duplicate

 

[Erichalfbee]

Many thanks.
I was a bit worried because I didn't get any helpers in the cage with the queen.
There were some cells with nectar so I don't think she'll starve for a couple of days.

Better get the paper on the other hive.

I always used to pick the queen out and put her in the cage alone. Nowadays I just tip the lot into the push in cage.

 

[sean-a]

Success!!
I opened the nuc this afternoon when I was home from work....the queen was still padding round with quite a few bees on the cage. I decided to leave them a while and went to the pub for supper.......on my return, I released the queen and she wandered off unmolested.
Two frames one of stores and one of sealed brood....she's a way to go, but she should be fine..

I also stuck some paper on the other two that I am trying to combine.
Feeling a bit smug until they reminded me with a rap on the wrist!

 

[eltalia]

Success!!
I opened the nuc this afternoon when I was home from work....the queen was still padding round with quite a few bees on the cage....

Great outcome Sean, "supper"(dinner) included!

Even if only a few bees "balling" is very obvious - from
antennae to bum the workers bodies are curved, almost
curled up.
Best example to see this is a queen being balled on the
ground - blind Freddy can spot what those halfdozen bees
are up to.


Bill