Advice

Rodni73 · May 20, 2008, 12:42:44 AM

Evening all

I installed a new package of bees last Saturday. the queen is dead. I fed the bees syrup and mega bee paddies and they are drawing comb like mad. It turned out that the place I got them from guarantee a live queen in case the original one was dead. I have a top hive feeder with 2 gallons of syrups. Should I open the top cover and remove the top feeder and insert the queen cage vertically between two frames or just remove the entrance reducer and slide the cage horizontally in the deep from the entrance? I think the first way will disturb the bees now especially that the top feeder is mobbed with thousands of ravenous bees feeding? Which way to go for tomorrow? Thanks!

annette · May 20, 2008, 12:52:05 AM

I would introduce them the same way you would from the beginning. Hanging between 2 frames. Just remove the feeder and get the queen cage in the hive, place the feeder back on top and that is all.
They will not bother you, but wear protective clothing. Be gentle that is all.
You could also spray them with sugar water a bit. I just did the same thing several times (minus the queen cage). I removed the feeder several times and got into the hive, placed the feeder back in place. No worries.

Annette

indypartridge · May 20, 2008, 07:56:57 AM

Quote from: Rodni73 on May 20, 2008, 12:42:44 AM
Should I open the top cover and remove the top feeder and insert the queen cage vertically between two frames or just remove the entrance reducer and slide the cage horizontally in the deep from the entrance? I think the first way will disturb the bees now especially that the top feeder is mobbed with thousands of ravenous bees feeding? Which way to go for tomorrow? Thanks!

I agree with Annette: put the queen at the top of the frames. Remember heat rises. If you slide her in the bottom and the night is cool, the bees can't surround her to keep her warm. When you place her between the frames, (depending on what kind of queen cage), be sure that the bees are able to access/feed her.

One more thing - your avatar: you're wearing a tie! Makes me uncomfortable just thinking about it! :)

BMAC · May 20, 2008, 09:41:39 AM

I third the advice. Hang her from the top bars. Give her 48 hours and then pull the cork out and let her walk out on her own. Remember to use heavy smoke when introducing her to keep the workers from balling her. Also for the first several weeks of checking on them, use heavy smoke to keep the workers as calm as possible. Sometimes they just blame the queen for you being in the hive and kill her. Especially when a new queen is introduced.

Scadsobees · May 20, 2008, 09:47:45 AM

A couple of points to think about:
1. There could be already a queen in the package. That occasionally happens when they are shaking the bees into the package. If so, then your new queen will bite the dust. But you are still fine in that case.
2. If you have too many bees in the feeder, make sure that they aren't robbers. (probably not if there is only internal access and you have an excluder on). Don't worry about moving the feeder, they are foragers and will sort everything out just fine.

I agree with the top of the frames. I like to put the cage in sideways if possible, screen down, plugs facing the outside of the hive. That way the bees can release the queen and the holes won't get plugged by dead assistants. It doesn't always work this way, but it is best, I think.

Rick

Rodni73 · May 20, 2008, 01:28:41 PM

Thank you all for your advice I will do it just like you mentioned!

Today is an overcast day with light rain. Temperature is 54 degree outside it stopped raining. I have the new queen in a cage. I installed the quenelles package Saturday May 17th at 4:00 PM. Should I install the queen today with the current conditions or wait until tomorrow? I practiced the instalation with an empty queen cage and empty deeps and frame in the basement and got it down to 35 seconds time. Please let me know what you think thank you!

-Rodni

josbees · May 20, 2008, 01:51:39 PM

Hey Rodni. I just did the exact same thing today here in CT. The package I installed last week was fine, but then the queen was dead in her cage on Saturday. So I got a new queen from my guy here and installed her an hour ago. Again, it's overcast, not too warm, but I just wanted to get her in there and the girls used to her asap. She's hanging from two fames in the middle of the box. I'm not going to go near the hive other than to top up the sugar water, till a week from now to check on her progress. Fingers crossed for both of us!

Scadsobees · May 20, 2008, 02:19:18 PM

Take your time. Speed kills.

54deg won't hurt the bees, and you aren't planning on a detailed inspection regardless.

Rodni73 · May 20, 2008, 02:53:43 PM

Thank you all!

I will do it as soon as I get home from school today and will slow down since this will not hurt the bees :).
I hope your queen will be accepted also :lol:!

Thank you & regards to all
-Rodni

Rodni73 · May 20, 2008, 05:57:07 PM

Done! I installed the queen cage! There was a light drizzle and the whole operation lasted 1 minute! Finger crossed... Hope she will be accepted and start laying soon.

-Rodni