queen Ejected from Hive

[theengraver]

A beekeeper called me this morning
regarding a queen that was outside the hive on the floor on her own
he picked her up and popped her back inside were the other bees seemed happy to see her.
I have only ever heard this once before but dont have a clue why
anyone have any thoughts?
mike

 

[greatbritishhoney]

Could it have been a vrigin queen returning from a mating flight and not quite finding the entrance?

 

[theengraver]

should have mentioned shes a mated and laying queen

 

[Skyhook]

Is she clipped? I wonder if they might have tried to swarm.

 

[Norton]

I seen this on several occasions. Queens that are in full lay are just found on their own alive outside the hive. I've always put them back in to the hive and then things have usually continued as normal. Maybe the mysterious disappearances of queens for no apparent reason are the result of queens going astray like this.
Best regards
Norton.