queen marking frustrations

[Cuckmere couple]

i have a colony which is doing great and requeened mid June.

new Q has been doing great but proved very elusive (double bb) and finally, found her yesterday...only for her to fall off the frame as i gently tried to rest it to pick her up for marking...

this hive, on a pallet and went under and i saw her walk off

decided to leave her and to see if she can get back in so wish me luck

crown of thorns or a sheet across to lay frame on may have both reduced risk of this

chances of her being led back in?

 

[Anduril]

The chances of the queen going back in is very high.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

The chances of the queen going back in is very high.

thats what i am banking on

and more chance of that then me successfully shifting hive and pallet to find her

 

[Anduril]

A few years ago I was combining a Q+ and Q- hive together. I was setting it up for Q+ hive on top, but as I was setting it up I saw the queen fly off, I then changed it to Q+ underneath and on next inspection the queen was back in the hive.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

A few years ago I was combining a Q+ and Q- hive together. I was setting it up for Q+ hive on top, but as I was setting it up I saw the queen fly off, I then changed it to Q+ underneath and on next inspection the queen was back in the hive.

i have had it happen twice before...once was completely my fault as i shook the q out of a marking tube and she hit the frames and flew straight off....she was back within the hour

second time similar

 

[Boston Bees]

Check under the OMF if the hive has one, in case she ends up there - there'll be a cluster around her if so

 

[Antipodes]

i have a colony which is doing great and requeened mid June.

new Q has been doing great but proved very elusive (double bb) and finally, found her yesterday...only for her to fall off the frame as i gently tried to rest it to pick her up for marking...

this hive, on a pallet and went under and i saw her walk off

decided to leave her and to see if she can get back in so wish me luck

crown of thorns or a sheet across to lay frame on may have both reduced risk of this

chances of her being led back in?

I had one unexpectedly leave a brood frame rested against the hive once. I didn't see her leave but found her absent when I went to put the frame back in. I searched exhaustively for her and had all but given up before finally seeing her queenlike silhouette , all alone and right under the middle of the pallet in the darkest place. Rescued on the end of a stick and added back in.
Another time I had a youngish one take off during an inspection. I only found where she was when I heard her "screams" after she landed at the entrance of the hive next door and was violently set upon.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

Check under the OMF if the hive has one, in case she ends up there - there'll be a cluster around her if so

yup....it was not a great spot to look under the pallet....surrounded by bramble...it was a colony i agreed to take and therefore had no space for in apiray but now re-queened is v good...i will leave and go back to check

 

[Cuckmere couple]

and

she made it back!

 

[Swarm]

Clever girl

 

[Cuckmere couple]

and marked her yesterday!