Virgin Queen died In nuc....

Fishing-Nut · April 11, 2020, 05:31:08 PM

Alright. A friend of mine gave me a small nuc for whatever reason. Had a virgin queen in a cage that was just barely alive. I immediately released her. Pretty sure she didnt make it because they are now building queen cells out of some young eggs that were already in this nuc. I think this is just something he threw together. Anyway I'm planning on getting another queen and giving her to them so there's no major setback. This is a small nuc with maybe 3 frames of bees....I'm thinking about just releasing her to the bees after a day or so in the box with them...thoughts?

TheHoneyPump · April 11, 2020, 06:16:15 PM

If it is a free-bees that you do not care if goes either way, and you have time and patience, 3 frames of bees is certainly enough for them to raise their own and get queenrite. Just put the box out somewhere and forget about them for a month. Queens are never 100% success though, so be equally prepared to be delighted as disappointed.
Do you have any other hives to draw resources from? If it is a case of must succeed, then buy a mated queen and properly introduce here along with frames of more bees and brood in all stages. To your question, no a day or so is not enough. Unless of course you are a risk taker and have a high loss tolerance level.

van from Arkansas · April 11, 2020, 09:26:31 PM

Brother Adam suggested that 50 percent of queens are lost, killed. I have to agree, maybe even higher than 50 percent.

Currently I have 3 queens in a cage, in hives for 5 days now waiting for acceptance. Nurse bees are taking good care of the queens, however the older, guard bees have not accepted the queens to date. The guard bees are still biting at the cage, although the cage is surrounded by accepting nurse bees. Tomorrow, day 6, I hope to release the queens. I should add, the bees are building queen cells which I tear down.

Fishing-Nut · April 12, 2020, 02:06:33 PM

Thanks guys. I had just figured that being queenless they would more readily accept a mated queen

van from Arkansas · April 12, 2020, 03:06:42 PM

If the bees have a queen cell, the bees consider the hive queenrite.

TheHoneyPump · April 12, 2020, 03:26:31 PM

The bees are very tolerant of a lot of our disruptions and mistakes. Despite our best intentions and errors ... in amongst all those things, there is but one that we cannot rush nor do for them or force them. That is the process of picking and accepting their queen.

Ben Framed · April 12, 2020, 03:48:10 PM

I had an experience late last season in that I was making some late season splits. One of my new queens was doing a great job and on the ball with getting things done, laying a good pattern etc. I decided it was time to go back and mark these queens. The first few did just fine. On the next one. I caught, marked , gave her a few minutes for the paint to dry. When I released her the bees balled her! I put her in a queen cage, thinking that would help as maybe they didn't like the smell of the paint. Nothing helped. I left her over night but they was through with her. Happy Easter to y'all. It has been raining all day here Mr Van 😊

Phillip

Ben Framed · April 12, 2020, 04:03:32 PM

Follow up from my last post,
The following is the good advice that I received from Mr Hp at that time of post last season, and I will try to remember and keep that advise in the future.

"It may be just the time of year. The bees are cranky, sensitive, easily upset by disturbances to their nest and promptly blamed queenys.
I find the fall is a difficult time, hard on the queens. At this time I try to minimize my intrusions and avoid handling the queens. I start at the edge frame. Soon as I see eggs standing on end I am done and close up. Not looking for queens at this time. Just evidence of her."

I appreciate you all.

Phillip

van from Arkansas · April 12, 2020, 05:15:51 PM

Quote from: Ben Framed on April 12, 2020, 03:48:10 PM
I had an experience late last season in that I was making some late season splits. One of my new queens was doing a great job and on the ball with getting things done, laying a good pattern etc. I decided it was time to go back and mark these queens. The first few did just fine. On the next one. I caught, marked , gave her a few minutes for the paint to dry. When I released her the bees balled her! I put her in a queen cage, thinking that would help as maybe they didn't like the smell of the paint. Nothing helped. I left her over night but they was through with her. Happy Easter to y'all. It has been raining all day here Mr Van 😊

Phillip

Good info to know, thanks Phil. As you know, I don?t mark queens. Not really a reason to mark a Cordovan.., Raining here also, 34F low Monday, oh well, no complaints.

Van