Queen cage release

[psbeekeeper]

Do I or should I wait the full 7 days for the queen to be released from the queen cage or can I check it day 6?  Also if she is not released on day 6, can I just directly release her?  Will it be safe?

[AllenF]

How long has she been in there?   I would release her after 2 days if the hive is not balling the cage.

[psbeekeeper]

I put them in the hive 6 days ago, checked on them this morning and saw she was released.  Also I looked for eggs but didn't see any in the one hive but saw a couple in the other with a queen cup with something in it.  Hopefully in a week or 2 some eggs will show up in the other. 

[schawee]

give her a few more days or so  she will be fine.       schawee

[joebrown]

I always release them on day three if they are not already released. 90% of the time they are out of that cage in two days! I do try to leave my hives queenless for about 24 hours before I place the cage in the hive though!