Queen Introduction query

[Wildwood]

Hi,

I'm hoping that one or more of you can give me some advice please.

Approximately two weeks ago I found two unsealed QCs containing royal jelly together with some play cups across several frames. I removed the play cups, moved the Queen into a spare nuc, and left the two QCs, I checked again a couple of days later to find that there was only one QC (now sealed).

As there was no sign of the new queen emerging 10 days (yesterday) after I had first seen it sealed, I opened it a little to find a fully formed but dead Queen.

As I could find no other QCs I reintroduced the original Queen into the hive yesterday in a Butlers cage. Checking this evening the Queen is out but I have been unable to find her (which is unusual given that she is clearly marked). There are no eggs anywhere. I am therefore uncertain as to whether she is there or not.

I figured that the easiest way to find out was to introduce a test frame from another hive (which I have done) and check again Wednesday to see if they start building QCs.

My questions are;

Am I expecting too much from the existing Queen to have expected her to have started laying 24 hours after introduction?

With hindsight, should I have done anything differently?

I really appreciate the advice on the site so please feel free to be honest rather than gentle with me

 

[Mike101]

After introducing a Queen it is recommended to leave well alone for at least a week, I recently learnt this the hard way! After a few days I took a peek to check she was out of the cage, as the bees were so quite I went thru the frames to check her- big mistake! I watched in horror as she was promptly balled and killed. Next time I wont go near for at least a week. Hope yours is alright but if she is well marked and you cant find her......