Queen installation question - no candy plug?

Bill W. · April 16, 2008, 10:18:41 PM

I just got in from hiving my two packages of bees that I picked up today. Everything went very smoothly; I couldn't have asked for more docile bees.

However, when I went to install the queens, I found they were in cages with no candy plug - just a cork in one end, solid wood on the other.

Last year, when I installed my first hive, it was the candy type cage. I don't know what to do with this type. I have the queens hanging in their respective hives in their cages. Do I just need to wait a few days for acceptance and then pull the cork?

Thanks!

Bill W. · April 16, 2008, 10:43:59 PM

I think I may have answered my own question with a better search. Advice given here before appears to be, "wait a day and then uncork."

So, that's what I'll do unless anyone has different/better advice on the subject.

Michael Bush · April 16, 2008, 11:15:12 PM

You have several choices. Mine would be to just release her. Some people put a marshmallow in the hole. Some just wait a while, as you've said, and let her out.

bassman1977 · April 17, 2008, 01:37:06 PM

When I got my first package, I didn't know to remove the cork. The bees chewed right through then through the candy. It took them 4 days. Since then I just wait a day and then release her manually. This year I will release her right away.

Brian D. Bray · April 17, 2008, 11:14:43 PM

Quote from: Michael Bush on April 16, 2008, 11:15:12 PM
You have several choices. Mine would be to just release her. Some people put a marshmallow in the hole. Some just wait a while, as you've said, and let her out.

In a pinch the marshmellows in Lucky Charms Cereal will work for plugging the hole. They don't plug it completely, which is a plus IMO.

Bill W. · April 18, 2008, 12:24:49 AM

Thanks for the tips. This afternoon I uncorked them both and no immediate chaos ensued, so hopefully all is well.

One hive is very active, sucking down syrup, with bees coming and going, seemingly along a couple of different paths. They found the gorse that grows down the street and seem to love it.

The other hive is very quiet - very little sign of activity even at the entrance and slow consumption of syrup.

Hopefully they are just taking a bit longer to get settled than the other hive.

My hive from last year survived but has been very slow to get going and very cranky. Then again, the new bees make me think that my first hive just has generally cranky bees. I can approach either of the new hives quite easily and never noticed any aggression even when releasing the queens today. My original hive starts pummeling visitors with guard bees within five feet and is pretty agitated with any inspection, even with smoke. It is interesting to see the difference in personality.

JP · April 18, 2008, 12:54:06 AM

Quote from: Brian D. Bray on April 17, 2008, 11:14:43 PM
Quote from: Michael Bush on April 16, 2008, 11:15:12 PM
You have several choices. Mine would be to just release her. Some people put a marshmallow in the hole. Some just wait a while, as you've said, and let her out.

In a pinch the marshmellows in Lucky Charms Cereal will work for plugging the hole. They don't plug it completely, which is a plus IMO.

Hey Brian, those little marshmellows must be, magically delicious!!! :-D

...JP