Plastic queen cage

jermpool · April 06, 2012, 02:12:44 PM

My nuc came with a plastic queen cage. There is a plastic cap on the tube, what do I need to do now? When I was learning how to start this I never read anything on the plastic cages. Does it already have candy under that pink cap?

JP · April 06, 2012, 02:45:20 PM

It should have candy but either take it off and see or call your supplier.

...JP

AllenF · April 06, 2012, 03:52:31 PM

Open it and see if there is candy under there.

jermpool · April 06, 2012, 08:32:57 PM

Thanks guys, there was candy in there. Guess I'm just a little nervous with this being my first time. Just need a little reassurance that what I have read is right. Now I just wait about a week and then check to see if the queen is out.

Robo · April 07, 2012, 09:06:48 AM

Why would a nuc come with a caged queen?

Doesn't sound like a nuc to me. Sounds like someone took a few frames of brood, threw in a queen and sold it as a nuc :evil:

In my book. A nuc should come with a laying queen and HER brood.

Jim134 · April 07, 2012, 09:54:47 AM

Quote from: Robo on April 07, 2012, 09:06:48 AM
Why would a nuc come with a caged queen?

Doesn't sound like a nuc to me. Sounds like someone took a few frames of brood, threw in a queen and sold it as a nuc :evil:

In my book. A nuc should come with a laying queen and HER brood.

Yes you maybe right but I have see (some times) the queen caged for long trips in nuc. Like GA. or LA. to New England .

BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

G3farms · April 07, 2012, 10:33:38 AM

I'm with Robo on that one also.
Kind of makes you wonder since he only lives in Chattanooga which is in TN on the GA border.

jermpool · April 07, 2012, 02:45:12 PM

Quote from: Robo on April 07, 2012, 09:06:48 AM
Why would a nuc come with a caged queen?

Doesn't sound like a nuc to me. Sounds like someone took a few frames of brood, threw in a queen and sold it as a nuc :evil:

In my book. A nuc should come with a laying queen and HER brood.

That's what I was thinking too. I ordered them from Holcomb garden in Hixon TN, they also have a store in Fort Oglethorpe GA. There is a GA seal of approval on the box they came in. So that tells me they came out of GA, but I don't know where at in GA. So I don't know what the deal is. I went out a few minutes ago and could see a few of them flying around the hive so I guess they are still here.

AllenF · April 07, 2012, 02:59:36 PM

My money is out of South Georgia.

Jim134 · April 07, 2012, 03:37:59 PM

Quote from: Robo on April 07, 2012, 09:06:48 AM
Doesn't sound like a nuc to me. Sounds like someone took a few frames of brood, threw in a queen and sold it as a nuc :evil:

And yes a have seen split sold as nuc.

BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

beyondthesidewalks · April 07, 2012, 08:18:00 PM

I agree with Robo. A nuc should be a queen with her brood but I have seen it done where someone buys a nuc and has to add a queen. That's only slightly better than a package to me.

JP · April 08, 2012, 01:06:07 AM

Yep, that's a new one on me, a nuc with a caged queen. Should be cheaper too.

BTW, they likely will eat the candy & release her within two days. Possibly even overnight.

...JP

oregonbeeman · May 31, 2012, 02:02:03 AM

Not all nuc are created equal. That's for sure!

Grandpa Jim · May 31, 2012, 02:44:17 AM

I am not a big nuc supplier, but when selling nucs, I like find the queen and cage her the afternoon before pickup (usually transferring frames to buyer's equipment). Makes transfer much faster and easier knowing where the queen is. She is in her nuc with her bees and we usually just release her when all frames and bees are transferred.

Jim