After losing queens last year for the first time using the travel cage as the intro unit I have bought a couple of the push in cages.
Thankyou for your question - pushcage use does not appear to
get much of an airing in UK forums. It is huge here in our
local, primarily down to managing numbers in a nonmigratory
subtropical environ.
Never having used these before I understand that the cage should be placed over sealed brood.
Nope.
You want that area around 10 or 2 Oclock on the frame, where some capped
may be present with the top of the cage over stores and the bottom over
empty comb.
My question is should the queen be placed in the travel cage inside the push in or let out first?
PH
Let her run free, attendants aren't really necessary where the mesh size
allows feeding but you'll find it is pretty much near impossible not to have
some bees in with her. Our own design actually uses a gate which when open
allows bees to come and go.
Whether on plastic or wax foundation make sure the legs of the cage go
right through to the other side of the frame and fold over the comb.
With wax foundation supply a mesh backing plate on that opposite side,
held in place by the legs.
Also make sure there is at least 17mm between the comb face and the
surface of the cage, denying masses of bees access to her. There are
some poor designs of cages out there which in turn generate poor outcomes.
We hold queens "in circuit/holding pattern" for up to 14days, no problem.
Bill
