My queen flew away!!

[tkwinston4]

Did my first inspection after new queen emerged a few weeks back and I was really pleased to see three day old eggs, not many but at least she is finally laying.

Anyway I hadn't seen the queen when I took out an empty frame from the end she was on there on her own. There were a couple of bees on the other side of the frame but it seemed odd that she was on her own and she didn't run off when I took the frame out. Then just as I was about to mark her she flew off.

Two questions; is that normal for her to be just sitting there contemplating life about four frames away from the brood and the majority of the bees?

And should I be worried that she flew away?

 

[plumberman]

And should I be worried that she flew away?

err yes, if she hasn't come back. Advice I've been given is to remain where you are ( to ensure no change in orientation markers) and she will usually come back.

As for being away from brood, I suspect we have all seen queens in odd places, and as long as she was acting normally and was being acted towards normally by the workers, yes normal.

 

[Rock_Chick]

Go back and have a look in 5 days,if they have put up emergency cells she did not come back.but saying that I have know new laying queens to come back.

 

[Busy Bee]

If the queen leaves by her own accord, change the locks straight away, you have a greater chance in court keeping the house better if you have kids....lol


Busy Bee

 

[Hebeegeebee]

Two questions; is that normal for her to be just sitting there contemplating life about four frames away from the brood and the majority of the bees?

NO

And should I be worried that she flew away?

YES.

She may come back though.

 

[rockdoc]

Similar thing happened to me a week ago. Went to inspect new queen to see if she was laying- no, but she took flight. Checked today and she was back in, allowed us to mark her but still no brood.

 

[richardbees]

tk

"is that normal for her to be just sitting there contemplating life about four frames away from the brood and the majority of the bees? "

In my experience, Yes. The longer you leave between smoking and opening up, the further from eggs she tends to be.

I've never had a Q fly away - she probably got ideas from that Cheryl Cole!