I am new to this and screwed up big. Please help

danmcph · April 28, 2011, 11:18:59 PM

I got a package of bees today and had a problem installing them in the hive.

the queen cage had only one hole in it and the instructions said to remove the cork and fill the hole with a marshmallow. I removed the cork and the queen made a break for it before I could put the marshmellow in and flew off.

So, is my hive going to die? Will the queen come back? What is going to happen?

there are 5 other hives in the same area, so even if the queen came back would she get confused and go to the wrong hive?

Kathyp · April 28, 2011, 11:28:45 PM

did you stay there with the hive open to see if she'd return? sometimes they do.

the hive doesn't have to die. if you have an established hive take a frame with eggs and put it in this hive. if the queen is gone, they can make a new one. be careful not to move the queen from your donor hive.

if you don't want to do that, and you know the queen is gone, you can combine this hive with another. you end up with a stronger hive and that's not a bad thing. do a search on here for combining methods and if you are still not sure, you can post again for more info.

if you don't have eggs and are not sure the queen is gone, you can wait a couple of days and check again. some of the bees may drift to other hives, but again, not a bad thing.

jaseemtp · April 29, 2011, 12:17:34 AM

ohh man that stinks. I would do as suggested either wait and see if she returnes or give them a frame of eggs / brood. You also want to consider getting a replacement queen on order.

danmcph · April 29, 2011, 12:27:42 AM

These are carniolans. I could get a frame of brood from a hive of Italians. Would this work?

I will try to get a queen ordered.

How do I combine hives if I need too?

jaseemtp · April 29, 2011, 12:36:02 AM

yes the bees wouldnt mind if the eggs were from italians.
Do a search of newspaper combine.
basicaly you put a sheet of newspaper on top of the frames poke some small holes in it and some folks will spray sugar syrup with honey b healthy on the paper. Then set the other hive ontop with out the bottom board and the bees will chew through the paper, by the time they have done that they will all smell the same and there will be very little fighting.

OzBuzz · April 29, 2011, 01:02:59 AM

Quote from: danmcph on April 28, 2011, 11:18:59 PM
I got a package of bees today and had a problem installing them in the hive.

the queen cage had only one hole in it and the instructions said to remove the cork and fill the hole with a marshmallow. I removed the cork and the queen made a break for it before I could put the marshmellow in and flew off.

So, is my hive going to die? Will the queen come back? What is going to happen?

there are 5 other hives in the same area, so even if the queen came back would she get confused and go to the wrong hive?

Keep an eye out in the area around your hives too - you may find, if the queen cage was in with the package for a while, that the bees from the hive might find her and clump around her... unlikely but a possibility all the same. Did you keep an eye on where she flew?

danmcph · April 29, 2011, 09:10:33 AM

I didn't see where she flew. It snowed last night so if she isn't in the hive she is dead.

If I put eggs into the hive without the queen what will that do? Will one of the eggs develop into a queen, or does it just mean that I delayed the inevitable a little while longer?

If the Carnolians don't mind if the eggs are from Italians does that mean that eventually the whole hive will be Italians?

hardwood · April 29, 2011, 09:16:52 AM

They will use the eggs to make a new queen. Once she mates (if you have drones ?) she will lay italian mutts.

Scott

Kathyp · April 29, 2011, 10:23:32 AM

danmcph, this is one of those times when we could really use info on your location. please go to your profile and at least narrow it down to county :-D

don't worry about "breed" of bees. it makes no difference to most people. makes a difference to the seller :-D

putting the eggs in will tell you if you have a queen, if nothing else. if they immediately begin to build queen cells, she is gone. if they don't, chances are she got back. as hardwood said, you may leave those queen cells and let them raise their own if you have drones around. this is where knowing your location would help. someone close to you with more experience might be able to help you make the call.

danmcph · April 29, 2011, 10:38:00 AM

I live in Bonneville County, Idaho. The city is Idaho Falls.

danmcph · April 29, 2011, 10:39:54 AM

I don't have drone cells, I don't think. I will look in the hive of Italians. How do I know if they are drone cells.

Course Bee · April 29, 2011, 10:48:58 AM

Drone cells on foundation will stick out farther than the rest of the brood cells. if the are on foundationless the drone comb is significantly larger cells. You'll be able to tell the difference fairly easily.

Kathyp · April 29, 2011, 11:14:57 AM

http://www.flickr.com/photos/borderglider/2489292560/#in/photostream/

here is a pic of drone cells next to worker cells.

Kathyp · April 29, 2011, 11:21:12 AM

drone and workers.

http://www.loe.org/shows/segments.html?programID=07-P13-00048&segmentID=4

thegolfpsycho · April 29, 2011, 03:21:38 PM

I wouldn't wait for a package to raise a queen. You can give them some eggs to verify queenlessnes, but waiting 2.5 weeks for a weak colony to raise a new queen, a week for her to mate, and another 3 weeks to have the first brood begin emerging is really rolling the dice. In addition, if your in the same weather pattern we are in here, the odds are pretty steep against success. If you really want to save them, call Jones Bee in Salt Lake and see if they have any queens, make the 2 hour drive to get one. I have purchased several dozen queens from them in the past, and they maintain some bank colonys of queens from Kohnen. Otherwise, combine them with another colony, get them a jumpstart, and when they fully occupy 2 deeps or 3 mediums, make a couple strong splits. I'm not sure of the flows up your way, but the chances of success with a walkaway split in late June are much better than hoping for a package size population successfully raising a queen in what amounts to winter conditions. Light snow was falling this morning, and currently 38 degrees here. Not really queen rearing weather.

Michael Bach · April 29, 2011, 10:41:02 PM

Quote from: danmcph on April 29, 2011, 09:10:33 AM
If the Carnolians don't mind if the eggs are from Italians does that mean that eventually the whole hive will be Italians?

Bees are bees. Most likely the package bees was filled with all races of bees and had a mated Carni queen.

The package producer should change to a different queen cage set up.

Some advise would be to take some bee classes and join a local country bee club. It will be very helpful to you.

hardwood · April 29, 2011, 11:01:30 PM

What ever you decide just stop kicking yourself over this...we've all had little mishaps, it's how we learn :) (and it doesn't sound like you were really at fault anyway)

Scott

danmcph · April 29, 2011, 11:52:08 PM

Thanks for all the help. What a cool forum. I have a new queen ordered for delivery Tuesday. How do I keep them happy and in the hive between now and then?

hardwood · April 30, 2011, 12:09:06 AM

Depending on the race of bee...the dance of the seven veils might put a smile on their faces :-D

They should be fine just doing bee stuff!

Scott