When requeening, how long would you leave the Queen caged?

[Dimmsdale]

I hived a package of Italians on April 4th, with a marked and clipped Queen.  One month later, she has yet to lay an egg.  On my past 2 inspections(over last 2 weeks)I've have not been able to find the Queen and the girls have built about 6 Queen cups, but no eggs to fill them.  My supplier sent me a new Queen on Tuesday.  I put her in the hive in her cage and left the cork covering the candy for one day.  Came back and took the cork out yesterday and while reading my bee book last night, read that if the bees were clinging to the cage in a tight group, she would likely be balled immediately upon release. Fearing the worst I got back in this morning and replaced the cork.  They are definitely clinging all over that cage.  They don't act aggressive, but are resistant to even be brushed off of it.  How long would you leave this Queen caged to increase my chances?  We have a good flow going and I'm hoping to give them another day of rest and then once again go through the hive with a fine tooth comb and confirm that my old non laying Queen is still not there.  She is marked with a yellow dot so has been pretty easy to see.  I was assuming the girls probably would have disposed of her because she wasn't laying, but not sure.  Any advise would be appreciated...will feel bad if I'm sending this new Queen straight to her death.

[FRAMEshift]

Clinging to the cage (and resisting being brushed off) is normal behavior.  Unless the bees are biting at the cage and showing clear aggression, I would open the cage.  At this point, there is no reason to use the candy.... just direct release her.

[Dimmsdale]

Thanks FRAMEshift.  I thought it was perfectly normal as well until I was reading ABC's of Beekeeping by A.I Root and they had almost 2 paragraphs dedicated to explaining the dangers of releasing a Queen when the bees are acting this way.(Although, this book was written in the 30's).  That coupled with the fact that I didn't personally disbatch the old Queen and have yet to lay eyes on her, has had me a bit nervous.

[D Coates]

I'm with Frameshift on releasing her but do you have a frame or two of open or even capped brood you can put in there?  If you installed the hive on April 4th, all the bees are at least one month old and you've got a good flow meaning they're getting worn out fast.  Even if she starts laying right now it will be +/-21 days before new bees begin emerging.  Assuming that and your package had nothing brand new bees will be at least 49 days old.  That's add a few days on the front and back of my assumptions and your hive could have very few left without a little help from their beekeeper.