Package bee questions

jimmy_in_texas · April 06, 2008, 10:30:42 PM

Well I made the drive to R Weavers and picked up my two three lb packages this Saturday morning, got em back home and waited until the evening to install.
during the first install, I put the queen cage between the bars and removed the cork plug, as soon as I removed the plug, the queen came rushing out and went down into the hive. I thought there was supposed to be a candy plug and I thought maybe someone forgot to put it in. anyway I finished with that one and sealed it up, I also put a queen "includer" in place since I'm using supercell for the first time and have heard its a good idea until she starts laying.

Got to the second install and found this queen cage also had no candy plug, but this time I was ready, I had some candy ready and plugged it.

Day 2, the hive that I plugged the queen cage seemed somewhat normal as they were already bringing in loads of pollen by noon.
I did not observe any pollen coming in to the hive where the queen was directly released, there seems to be more random flying around this hive as well.

I wonder if I should just go ahead and get another queen now or wait until this coming weekend to see if she made it or not? I cant tell any difference in hive sound compared to the other two hives I have, I've heard they make a constant roaring sound when queenless.

Also this is my first time to use screened bottom boards, on both new hives, during the first night, there were clusters of bees on the bottom of the screen, the second night, they are still there, I'm wondering if these just cant figure out how to get in the hive, or with screens, are there always bees on the bottom of the screen?

JP · April 06, 2008, 10:55:21 PM

Whoahhhh Nellie! Give that hive some time man, they are just needing a little time to orient. Not all hives are like gangbusters at first, you could see a turn around and the colony that's not bringing in pollen now could wind up being your stronger of the two.

Bees on bottom of sbb, normal, I had the same thing happen and same concern, when I started up. Not a problem. The bees will figure it out, not to worry. Just enjoy your bees, they will be fine. Get back to us in about a week or two.

...JP

jimmy_in_texas · April 06, 2008, 11:18:42 PM

Thanks JP, I was just concerned they might have balled the queen since she was released directly, I also dont know how long a hive can go queenless until the workers start laying.

JP · April 06, 2008, 11:22:43 PM

Quote from: jimmy_in_texas on April 06, 2008, 11:18:42 PM
Thanks JP, I was just concerned they might have balled the queen since she was released directly, I also dont know how long a hive can go queenless until the workers start laying.

Open up the hive and check for the queen. If you do see a large ball under sbb, check it out, in fact you could wipe them or bump them in a small box, and check them for the queen and then shake them into the hive body.

...JP

Michael Bush · April 07, 2008, 12:14:02 AM

I direct release all my package queens on purpose.

jimmy_in_texas · April 07, 2008, 12:45:26 AM

Do you do that Michael so that there is no delay from the workers releasing her?

I'm assuming you must have good success doing a direct release.

JP · April 07, 2008, 01:01:42 AM

Quote from: jimmy_in_texas on April 07, 2008, 12:45:26 AM
Do you do that Michael so that there is no delay from the workers releasing her?

I'm assuming you must have good success doing a direct release.

Jimmy, if I may answer, because M.B. is off line. Think about it this way, you have a package, with a queen inside of the package right? The bees have already had time to acclimate to her scent, so the chances of them not accepting her are slim to none.

A simple test can confirm this, a visual one. If the bees are surrounding the queen cage but not trying to bite at her you have acceptance. Bees that exhibit unacceptance will bite at the queen, showing hostility.

If you already have acceptance why not simply direct release her? Get the ball rolling in one swoop so to speak.

...JP

Michael Bush · April 07, 2008, 09:08:07 PM

>Do you do that Michael so that there is no delay from the workers releasing her?

Yes

>I'm assuming you must have good success doing a direct release.

Yes

jimmy_in_texas · April 20, 2008, 03:09:38 AM

Hello All,

Finally got to do a good inspect of the two packages installed on 4-5,
here is my small set up, the taller hive at the end are the ferals I got last summer, I call it hive 1 and the one next to it, hive 2, then 3.
2 and 3 are the new 3 lb packages.

here is #2 after taking the top off.

there were 5 sides capped like this, somebodys been very busy, didnt actually see the queen in this one.

I think I had the inner covers on upside down, there was burr comb I had to scrape off of both hives, I turned them over so the gap was gone.
it was amusing to watch my 6 year old grandson eat the comb as soon as I scraped it off, it was empty comb but I guess it tasted good to him.

heres looking into #3

#3 had just 1 frame of solid brood, but more honey and pollen then #2, sorry about the fuzzy picture, kinda hard to hold the frame and take a picture at the same time.

I found the queen in this one, shes marked near the center of the picture

if you look close, you can see single eggs in some of the cells, whats that worker doing backed into a cell?

a close up of #1 the ferals, still looking for mites, havent seen any. these have been small cell since I got them last summer, totally foundationless.

I'll take another peek in a couple of weeks and post what I find.

thanks everyone for the advice I've gotten here, yall have been a big help..

Jimmy

Cindi · April 20, 2008, 09:06:03 AM

Jimmy, got some nice pictures there, yeah!!! The worker may be an emerging bee? Or maybe just an illusion of backed into a cell. I think I know the bee you are speaking of, it is in the very top centre, right? No clue, but it does kind of look like it was backed into a cell, oh well. Beautiful day in this great life. Cindi