I picked up my queen/bee package on Friday (3 days ago now) and I installed them yesterday. How long can the queen safely stay in her cage? The reason I ask is that we're looking at a rainy day tomorrow and Wednesday, and I could release her in the poor weather but would rather wait until a sunny afteroon.
She is probably fine in the cage for quite a while, certainly a few days or a week, they bank queens in cages and the nurse bees feed the queens in the cages. Are you going to pull the cork and put a mini marshmellow in the hole or direct release? I have done both and have had success both ways.
This is the 3rd year I've done the "pull the cork" method and I like it ok.
Make sure you give her (them) a couple drops of water on the cage screen each day. You probably already Knew that. Store where no pest or ants etc can get to cage.
Rex
I always pull the cork and place a marshmellow in its place. This way the bees just eat out the marshmellow and release her themselves. It has always worked out well for me.