Print Page - Packaged Bees- where to put the queen?

Title: Packaged Bees- where to put the queen?
Post by: threehives on October 03, 2016, 06:46:29 PM

Hi All

Im receiving my first packaged bees tomorrow and I am undecided on where to put the queen?
I am located in Wagga, Australia and I was hoping to be able to place here on the bottom board but i'm just not sure if it is warm enough yet to do this as the temperature will get down to 8 degrees Celsius overnight. I didn't really want to hang her between the frames as I know it can cause cross combing especially with foundation-less frames.
Will she be ok on the bottom board at this temperature or will the bees leave her and cluster at the top

Cheers Phill

Title: Re: Packaged Bees- where to put the queen?
Post by: Andersonhoney on October 03, 2016, 09:27:05 PM

Do you have a local beekeeper, or bee club that could help you.

Title: Re: Packaged Bees- where to put the queen?
Post by: chorrylan on October 04, 2016, 04:59:05 AM

Given a choice between a dead queen and cross combing... I know which would upset me more :-)

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Title: Re: Packaged Bees- where to put the queen?
Post by: yantabulla on October 04, 2016, 05:18:52 AM

Put the cage between the frames with the entrance facing up so that the queens exit can't be blocked by dead bees.

Title: Re: Packaged Bees- where to put the queen?
Post by: threehives on October 04, 2016, 06:38:39 AM

Im going to hang her, and deal with any cross combing if it happens

Thanks
Phill

Title: Re: Packaged Bees- where to put the queen?
Post by: Andersonhoney on October 04, 2016, 06:42:42 AM

So are you putting a package into a box with no foundation at all?

Title: Re: Packaged Bees- where to put the queen?
Post by: Michael Bush on October 04, 2016, 10:42:16 AM

I would never put the queen on the bottom board if there is any chance of the temperature getting down to 50 F (10 C). If it gets cold they will abandon the queen and cluster at the top. They assume she will follow but she can't. Unless the weather is going to be warm, I would direct release her.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beespackages.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk7n1LGdhIg&list=PL0cW96U9vYJlvMDRDc83hsGpp4mWucrv-&index=1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Zt3vmpGuNo&list=PL0cW96U9vYJlvMDRDc83hsGpp4mWucrv-&index=2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vI4gzmatkyE&list=PL0cW96U9vYJlvMDRDc83hsGpp4mWucrv-&index=3

The day we filmed the above, in New South Wales, we left some in cages on the bottom and some we direct released. All of the direct released queens stayed. The bees in one of the ones with the cage on the bottom, left and swarmed into the tree next door. I assume there was another queen loose in the package. There are no guarantees...

Title: Re: Packaged Bees- where to put the queen?
Post by: Jim134 on October 04, 2016, 12:33:11 PM

A person would feed a hive with no resources and I would make it a top gravity feeder. I would not stop feeding until I had at least three frames nectar in comb

BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :smile:

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BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => DOWN UNDER BEEKEEPING => Topic started by: threehives on October 03, 2016, 06:46:29 PM