DID I DO THE RIGHT THING?
I found one of my Queens on the ground beneath her hive today. She was alive but covered by a handful of bees; some dead. Last night temp was 44 degrees. I put her back on the hive entrance where the other bees quickly surrounded her then escorted her back inside.
I'm sure she is from that hive. Yesterday I replaced the solid bottom board with a screened board. I then flipped the brood boxes to get the bottom brood chamber up high in the cluster area. She, the Queen, was laying near where I stack my boxes. I am amazed that she could have fallen out!
(http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/2265/queenbee.th.jpg) (http://img136.imageshack.us/i/queenbee.jpg/)
I've had similar things happen a few times in the past. You did the right thing, she should be OK.
What a catch!!! Good thing you went back to do a follow up eh?
Pretty remarkable that you spotted her. This wouldn't probably be a good time to be queenless. One more reason to keep up some nucs.
It seems like all luck that I found her. I was taking Fall pictures and went to take one of the hives. I actually knelt down right next to her. If not for the pictures I would not have been to the hives today. I don't know how long she'd have lived. Could they still be feeding her?
Thank you to all who left comments. aun Aprendo