Queen introduction

[jeff33]

That's what I do if the queen is kept for too long in the introduction cage. I take a frame with emerging bees inside and put the push in cage over a few emerging bees, nectar and empty cells. The queen usually starts laying after a couple of of days.

 

[Amari]

Cocktail stick for me.
I leave mine for five days. It's ok finman she is posted the day before I get her. She could have been banked I suppose.

Do you mean that you put the cage into the queenless colony and leave the safety tab intact for 5 days? I've probably bought a score of queens over the years via the postal system. I usually remove the worker attendants, remove the safety tab, and suspend the cage on a matchstick between two combs without further delay (delay is further reduced by our wonderful postie: if she spots the customary brown envelope she brings it straight to our house at about 10am, instead of the normal delivery time of 1pm).
As far as I remember all my queens have been accepted.
.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Yes

 

[madasafish]

I decided removing attendants was a waste of time and far too much hassle for me and the queen - in 2011. Never had a problem since..

 

[Erichalfbee]

Yes

But I might try less in a quiet colony

 

[Finman]

I decided removing attendants was a waste of time and far too much hassle for me and the queen - in 2011. Never had a problem since..

How many seconds you saved to your forum time?
.

 

[maddydog]

I use the push in cages and find they work really well. I don't handle the queen, just walk her onto a frame of emerging bees then place the cage over the top and hold with an elastic band. Check three days later to find the bees have tunnelled her out. Not perfect but good enough.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

The Queen cannot be on cage 2 weeks. One week in post and second in cage.

The Royal mail delivers the day after posting - wherever in the country you live so it's only one day (occasionally two) in the post

 

[bjosephd]

I opened up the hive with the queen intro cage in it today and there seemed to be a ton of bees around and over the cage.

She has been in there 4 days, so I still broke the seal on the fondant plug.

Was this a bad idea?

Should I go back in and cover it up again for a few days? Or rethink my introduction all together?

Should they have been completely ignoring her if they had accepted her?

And how long now before they eat through the plug? What're my options?

She is still very much alive in there.

Rainy day!

 

[Erichalfbee]

Were they biting the cage or feeding her?
I would have thought four days should be ample time.
The bees will be through that fondant in a matter of hours.
No point in worrying now. Have a look in a week.

 

[bjosephd]

I went through and found a sealed queen cell in the previously demareed box that I created the hive with. And strangely one single egg in one single cup. No other eggs whatsoever.

I should keep stricter records but they have been away from a laying queen for a fair while now.

So I knocked down the sealed queen cell and squished the queen cup and she's back in there but locked in the cage, fondant covered again.

Tempted to make an almost mating nuc sized nuc say with a frame of capped brood, a few frame shakes of bees from above an excluder from another hive and put her in there with no risk of whatever is going on in the box she's in. Might try and construct a push in cage if the mesh I have is strong enough.

That might at least get her laying. Which would be a jolly bonus.

 

[bjosephd]

Well I popped in for 60 seconds today and uncovered the fondant. I just really hope it's not £50 down the drain and the loss of a perfectly good innocent queen. It would make me very sad.

Still can't tell if they are attacking or feeding the queen through the cage.

Fingers crossed... particularly as I didn't ship over as many nurse bees as I thought.

 

[bjosephd]

I have to confess I'm really not hopeful

 

[colinc]

I've got my fingers crossed for you. Hope you are just overly pessimistic.


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[bjosephd]

Thanks!

 

[bjosephd]

She lives!

She lays!

She's yellow!

And totally easy to spot on the comb amongst the dark bees I put her with.

 

[colinc]

She lives!

She lays!

She's yellow!

And totally easy to spot on the comb amongst the dark bees I put her with.

Not for long. They will all be yellow soon enough. Genuinely pleased for you [emoji106]


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