How long can I keep a Queen in its cage?

[Etton]

Got my replacement Q, Buckfast, yesterday so it’s been in its cage 2 days now ( you may remember I accidently squashed my Q on first inspection). Have taken down all EQC’s today (put in chicken incubator to see if will hatch) and plan to wait another 48 hrs before inserting new Q (from Payne’s) into Q- hive. How many days do you think I can leave a Q in its cage along with its fondant and few nurse bees before it’s damaged?

 

[Beefriendly]

Got my replacement Q, Buckfast, yesterday so it’s been in its cage 2 days now ( you may remember I accidently squashed my Q on first inspection). Have taken down all EQC’s today (put in chicken incubator to see if will hatch) and plan to wait another 48 hrs before inserting new Q (from Payne’s) into Q- hive. How many days do you think I can leave a Q in its cage along with its fondant and few nurse bees before it’s damaged?

Put queen inside cage into queenless hive ASAP. Do not remove tab enabling bees to chew their way in. Just don't release her for a few days. You can check to see how they are responding to her after a couple of days.

An immediate release of a queen directly into a hive with a postal queen often results in her death. her new hive bees need time to adapt to her different pheromones.

As for original question if given water and attendants are able to feed HM, weeks.

 

[drex]

Smear a drop or two of water on cage grill every day and you should be fine. If they have been quenless that long, why wait?

 

[For want of a better word]

Smear a drop or two of water on cage grill every day and you should be fine. If they have been quenless that long, why wait?

I agree with that.

A"difficult" queen or a very valuable one could be introduced to a nuc in an introduction cage ( BekkisBees does them) press introcage firmly into the just to emerge brood and pop queen in with some fondant.
Queen will be accepted by new brood, then nuc can be merged with your main colony.

Good luck

 

[linoleum bonypart]

To release caged nurse bees or not... That is the question
If you do.. Do it in the car lol

 

[Finman]

Bees accept very well a new Queen when their Queen cells have been capped.

IT is good to put the Queen under the push on cage and then you see, how bees react on the new Queen.

 

[Finman]

.
How long in the posting cage? After a week assistant bees start to die.

.

 

[Beefriendly]

wrong thread.

 

[Etton]

To release caged nurse bees or not... That is the question
If you do.. Do it in the car lol

Have put Q in today rather than wait. Bees seemed disinterested in her, but early days. I'll look again in two days and if all looks ok I'll release her. Fingers crossed! Thanks for feedback.

 

[Etton]

I let the nurse bees out first. In the bedroom!

 

[madasafish]

To release caged nurse bees or not... That is the question
If you do.. Do it in the car lol

It's another one of those beekeeping myths.
You don't need to.

I never do and have had no problems.

 

[Beefriendly]

It's another one of those beekeeping myths.
You don't need to.

I never do and have had no problems.

Totally agree, an unnecessary faff. And I've introduced a lot of queens over the years, mainly successfully.
Although I had a new variation on a failed introduction last season. As I released the queen from her cage she ran out onto the comb and then flew off...never to be seen again!

 

[Finman]

It's another one of those beekeeping myths.
You don't need to.

I never do and have had no problems.

At least hive starts to kill at once assistsnt bees.

If you have never problems in introducing queens, the are two alternatives

1) you are blind
2) you are blind

 

[Finman]

Totally agree, an unnecessary faff. And I've introduced a lot of queens over the years, mainly successfully.
Although I had a new variation on a failed introduction last season. As I released the queen from her cage she ran out onto the comb and then flew off...never to be seen again!

Second blind
..... Next...
.

 

[Beefriendly]

Second blind
..... Next...
.

Can't be blind Finman I saw her fly away.

 

[Finman]

.
What have happened to Welsh beekeepers. They are so silent. Have they jumped to sniffing side?

 

[Finman]

Can't be blind Finman I saw her fly away.

It came back and you did not see it.
.

 

[mazzamazda]

I wouldnt introduce any other way than with a push in cage with or without attendants, sometimes i throw in a few extra newly hatched fluffy bees from any hive. I find it especially important if the weather cools down and if using a weak hive which is always my favourite, preferably with no foraging bees at all and feed which gives them something to do.

I leave for 4 days then go in every 2 days to check behavior and knock down any queen cells. Providing there is food I have had queens alive in a push in cage for a month or more, I have even had laying workers but that was with Iberian bees which are nearly impossible to introduce a new queen to. I would only ever take the cage off if there is no interest to the queen, as soon as she is released if she is cleaned and cared for, perfect. Any aggression and she would be back under the cage. I have even changed nucs at that stage if not accepted as some nucs will not accept queens.

Then LEAVE for at least 10 days, go in gently with no smoke and dont mess about, you need PERFECT weather. I have had balling after that, if there is, back in the cage.

Using this method taken from many people, Mike palmer, Richard Noel, Peter Little, my screw ups, this is what I find the best. Last introduction was 87/90 which I was happy with.

Sorry its long winded but it is bloody difficult and so much more to introducing queens than if you keep the attendants or not

I dread to think where you got a Buckfast mated queen at this time of year and I dont want to know!

 

[Erichalfbee]

I dread to think where you got a Buckfast mated queen at this time of year and I dont want to know!

I had one last year from Payne’s
Long story as to why
The bees let her out to lay a few eggs then tossed her out.
I blame myself. I gave her a name. Eva Peron

By the way
Push in cages are brilliant, I agree. Stan has made me a couple big enough to cover quarter of a 14x12 frame.
I watched Mike Palmer use one and thought, “yes, that’s it”

 

[mazzamazda]

I had one last year from Payne’s
Long story as to why
The bees let her out to lay a few eggs then tossed her out.
I blame myself. I gave her a name. Eva Peron

By the way
Push in cages are brilliant, I agree. Stan has made me a couple big enough to cover quarter of a 14x12 frame.
I watched Mike Palmer use one and thought, “yes, that’s it”

Yes they can be cruel.

I make them all different sizes, you have to be careful, too big and they can lift on one side and the cage can be packed with hatched bees, I have had it when nearly half the nuc is in the cage if it lifts and the queen is still inside. Too small and you cant reach honey and enough hatching bees, I find older comb is tougher and easier to get a cage pressed on too.