Lost all three hives due to the blizzard. The winds were strong enough to shift the hives and allow the snow to blow inside.
I went with one package and am planning on doing splits in June if it builds enough. Since the frames are already drawn and there's plenty of honey, they should build up fast.
I also put a Qtip with a couple drops of lemongrass oil in a baggy into two empty hives... just in case.
I checked a couple hours after installing and they were already bring in pollen from somewhere. I'll check to see if the queen is released Wednesday or Thursday.
I did get two mediums full of honey.
If the weather permits I would check the queen Monday, no later than Tuesday. d2
Today was in the 50s. Same thing tomorrow, Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday is suppose to hit around 65. I'm not too worried about her. While I was trying to pop the cork, bees kept landing on the cage trying to care for her. I could have direct released but figured, a few more days might make the place seem more like home.
I wait 7 days after installing before checking, then I look for eggs. If I find them, I don't disturb them again for two weeks. I have never had a supercedure with a package.
I understood he was checking to make sure the queen was out of the cage. d2
Today was pretty decent, around 55 degrees, so I went in and checked the queen. She was still caged up. I pulled the cage, squeezed the frames back together and added an empty frame and then released her. She darted down and I closed the hive up.
I'll check on them in a couple weeks for brood.