Released package Queens

[RHBee]

Today was day 5 since my packages were shook. I figured that was long enough for proper queen introduction so I released the queens. I haven't done this a whole bunch so I just wanted to pass along some of my experiences. My first priority was to not injure the queen in any way my second was to get the queen cage out and bunch the frames up.
The plan was to pull the cage, bunch the frames, pull the cork, release the queen and move to the next hive. What I found out was the queen doesn't always cooperate. Between the bees covering the cages and the queens inability to find the escape hole I finally just ripped off the screen and then watched as she went down into the box. I only wanted to make one trip and be done with it. I guess I just thought it would go a little smoother.
On the up side they all have drawn out quite a bit of the foundation and the foundationless frames are going in straight. All and all they look good.

[schawee]

that's part of beekeeping,  you make a plan and they change it for you.   lol           schawee

[Better.to.Bee.than.not]

I, and many others, find it more useful to uncork the queen cage, plug hole with candy, let the bees free her, come back and remove the cage and do whatever your gonna do.

[Steel Tiger]

 When the bees fall in love with the queen, they don't give you much room to work the cork out. I walked away from the hive to work on the cork and dozens of bees followed me. When I finally got her out, I put the empty cage on top of the hive next to it so I could put everything back together. By the time I was done, the cage was packed with bees.

[BeeMaster2]

I, and many others, find it more useful to uncork the queen cage, plug hole with candy, let the bees free her, come back and remove the cage and do whatever your gonna do.

What he said.
Jim

[RHBee]

I, and many others, find it more useful to uncork the queen cage, plug hole with candy, let the bees free her, come back and remove the cage and do whatever your gonna do.

What he said.
Jim

I did that with my first package. I just didn't want to have to come back a second time. I had read about direct release and wanted to give it a try. It just proved to be a little more difficult than I imagined.  All I was trying to convey with this post was that some things may sound easy but in reality they can throw you a curve.
Ray

[tefer2]

Welcome back Schawee!

[danno]

A couple of years back I was pulling cages and releasing the queens that had not gotten out of them.   I usually pop a staple out of the screen with my hive tool, tip the screen side down on the top bars and pull the screen open.    One of my queens decided to fly out.  I didn't take my eyes off of her as she did a couple of laps around the yard and then landed on the side of another hive.  I picked her up and put here where she belonged.    

[RHBee]

A couple of years back I was pulling cages and releasing the queens that had not gotten out of them.   I usually pop a staple out of the screen with my hive tool, tip the screen side down on the top bars and pull the screen open.    One of my queens decided to fly out.  I didn't take my eyes off of her as she did a couple of laps around the yard and then landed on the side of another hive.  I picked her up and put here where she belonged.    

Danno,
Because you guys had shared that information about flying queens in past threads I was prepared for that. I had one try. As she was taking off I simply covered her with a gloved hand. This was enough to get her to go down between the frames. Thanks for the heads up.
Ray

[danno]

Thanks for share that with me Ray!!!!    Always glad to hear that I helped

[Better.to.Bee.than.not]

All I was trying to convey with this post was that some things may sound easy but in reality they can throw you a curve.
Ray

yep that is for sure. As everyone says, we have all read the bee books and rules, except the bees, someone really needs to teach them to read soon I think.....