I introduced queens on Saturday using the push-in method for the first time. If anyone has had experience with this method, please let me know what/when you would do with the following scenerio.
Hive #1) Saw a virgin queen on frame I pulled from hive, just after introducing new queen. Lost her, not sure if she flew back into hive or not so left new queen in push-in cage.
Hive #2) From a split, introduced queen. Very little activity outside of hive. Took a peek Sunday..numbers low, but enough to cover all brood and some stores. Some may have drifted to #1.
Hive #3) Booming. Has laying queen.
Hive #4) Strong. Has laying queen. Had laying worker issues, but many cells with egg in appropriate position. Only one cell with 2 small larvae out of 2 frames of eggs/brood. Assume new queen made a mistake. Couldn't find queen, but I still have trouble doing so, espcially in strong hives.
Hive #5) Actually this is a nuc. Introduced queen, just in case I need queen for another hive. Some activity/foraging, but not much.
I plan to investigate acceptance on Thursday (5 days after introduction) as I've read. I assume I should look for workers trying to feed from outside the cage. I looked for biting on Sunday, but not sure if that was what I witnessed. I'll know more Thursday, but thought I'd get some other view points before then just in case.
Thanks,
Derrick