Typical time from emerging to foraging

[challenger]

I'm curious if the time it takes for a bee that has just emerged to become a foraging bee changes from season to season. I figure capped brood will not become foragers until after the honey flow here in S.E. NC. If I am not mistaken it takes about 3-4 weeks for a newly emerged be to start foraging. Is this about right?

[BjornBee]

In as little as 12 days if needed.

[RayMarler]

If the hive has a good age balance of bees, the typical age for foraging is 3 to 4 weeks, I think (memory is fading  :roll:). However, a bee over 10 days old can perform any task needed in the hive if the proper aged bees for that task are low in numbers.

[Michael Bush]

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesbasics.htm#worker

[Two Bees]

Good description, MB!  I was going to say 20 days, +-1.