New install question

[Mklangelo]

If I installed on Monday afternoon, I was thinking that an inspection of the queen to see if she is released would be in order either Thursday afternoon or Friday morning.  Does that sound about right?   


:-\

[Kirk-o]

Yeah thats probably allright go for it then
kirko

[MikeG]

How presumptuous of me, a beginner, to post a statement of any kind.  BUT,  EVERYTHING I've read says to NOT go into a new hive to check the queen for at LEAST 7 - 8 days.  That it can result in the death of the queen. 

Do others concur with this advice to go back in so quickly?   Frankly, I'm anxious to go back in, but don't want to (or Mklangelo) to mess up!

Thanks (and forgive my doubting)

Mike

[Shizzell]

Mike it depends on what strand of bees you have. A newly released package of Italians may accept the queen in a day. An established hive of AHB's may never accept the new queen. However, if the hive is in dire straits and realize they don't have a queen, they will accept her usually within a few days.

[Sean Kelly]

I checked my queen cage 3 days after install and she was out and fine.  I just made my trip real quick and used very little smoke.  I've read in books both waiting at least 7 days and just 3 days.  I guess it also has to do with how long the bees and queen were together in the package.  I've heard of some people even releasing the queen right away.

Sean

[LET-CA]

I waited about 7-8 days to check on my new queens and found that the bees had not only released her, but had built all kinds of weird comb between the two frames where her cage had been wedged.  Her cage kept those two frames further apart than normal and I've got some pretty funky stuff there.  I decided to leave it for now since it was a new hive with no drawn foundation.  After two weeks the bees had built out the bottom deep super and I've now added a second deep.  I've been feeding pollen patties and heavy syrup during the build-up and will continue to do so until the second deep is completed, or they stop accepting it.

So, the long and short of it is that I vote for 4 days.  Long enough to eat through a marshmallow, and not so long that you have strange architecture to deal with.   :fishhit:

[Kirk-o]

This is Beekeeping not Brain Surgery.You can nicely and quietly lift the lid pull out
the frame and see if she is in or out of the cage if she is out remove the cage and shut lid nicely.If she is in remove some candy or just leave her awhile longer Relax enjoy your bees.
kirko

[Understudy]

Four days is fine.


Sincerely,
Brendhan