Nervous Newbee

[ch.cool]

Hi,
I got my package on Wed. They left Georgia on Monday. I checked them today, Sunday, and the queen has not been released or accepted. The bees have eaten half the candy to get to her. There is still not any combs bult yet.  I think it has been too cold. I am feeding them sugar water. Does this sound normal to you, or should I be as nervous as I am? I am driving me wife a bit crazy with my anxiety!

Thanks for your thoughts.

Christian

[Kathyp]

the queen part sounds normal.  what are you using for foundation...if anything?  that part would have me a little worried.  when your queen is released, she'll have nowhere to lay.

[iddee]

I would release her directly into the hive. 6 days is more than enough to get her acquainted.

[buzzbee]

If you lift the queen cage and they are not clawing at it,but just walking around on it you are safe to release her.I agree,six days is plenty of time.

[Michael Bush]

I would worry that apparently (you didn't say how cold) it's too cold for them to take syrup and they have no stores.  Since the queen has nowhere to lay I don't know that it matters if she's released.  Warm the Syrup to as hot as you can get and still put your finger in and not get burned.  Put the syrup back on and see if they can get some nourishment.

[BoBn]

Boardman feeders (entrance feeders) don't work in cold weather. 

Are you feeding with a jar above the inner cover?  Since the bees will cluster and start to work at the top of the frames, they can much more easily feed from a jar placed above the inner cover.  If it is cold, I would make sure that the hive only has a small opening.

[jmblakeney]

 :stayontopic: BTW.  This is a family forum

[Kathyp]

This person has already been reported.  They'll be gone soon.    Ignore until then.

[jmblakeney]

I had reported them too. 

[ch.cool]

Thank you for all the answers. I do have a entrance feeder, the one from "brushybee" reaching deeper in the hive and a entrance reducer.
It is warmer since two days, they fly bring pollen and empty the feeder pretty quick. I will check one the queen tomorrow during my lunch break and will release her if she is not released yet.

Thanks again

Christian

[Intheswamp]

ch.cool, I got my first bees back in December...a little nuc from a friend of my mentor.  I had to feed them for a couple of months.  Even though I'm down here in Alabama it was fairly cold during that time but the bees would always take the syrup.  I fed directly over the cluster using a quart mason jar with holes in the lid.  I stapled some #8 mesh wire over the hole in the inner cover and placed the inverted jar over the hole.  The jar was right there at them and they took it well...anytime I removed the jar there was "standing room only" beneath the screen mesh.  I think *maybe* that warm humid air may have been coming out of the hole and warming the syrup just a little at the lid area.  I put another medium super on top of the inner cover and then my telescoping top on top of that...this protected the mason jar from the weather.  It worked good for me. 

Ed