Dropped frame during inspection

[rayb]

This is my first year bee keeping and while inspecting our established hive (Deep brood plus Medium brood , queen excluder and one deep super) I dropped a frame with capped brood honey and pollen and a bunch of bees. I scooped everyone that I could find and put them at the entrance. I didn't see the queen so I'm hoping I got lucky and picked the one frame she WASN'T on. About 20 bees crawled under the hive and are clustered just under the screened ( but not removable) bottom.

Will they find their way back in?. If one happened to be the queen, will she go back in?. And is my correct plan to wait a few days and look for more eggs and larva and be thankful that I got  away with this drop.

The girls were very calm about the whole situation. I think I was more excited about the bad handling. They deserve better treatment.

Thanks, Ray

[Michael Bush]

>I scooped everyone that I could find and put them at the entrance.

I'd just let them find their way. You'll do less damage.

>About 20 bees crawled under the hive and are clustered just under the screened ( but not removable) bottom.

>Will they find their way back in?

Probably not. If they were going to they would have, already.

>. If one happened to be the queen, will she go back in?

Probably not, since she hasn't yet.

> And is my correct plan to wait a few days and look for more eggs and larva and be thankful that I got away with this drop.

Odds are you didn't lose the queen.  But if she's under the SBB you might want to find out.  :)  If you have a tray I'd be tempted to brush them off the bottom into the brood box and put the tray in until they settle down and the flyers find their way back.

[Hi-Tech]

Along this same line.... I almost dropped a frame today but I caught it before it hit the ground. However, I did crush, with my thumb, a corner of the comb that began leaking honey.

The bees should clean this up and repair it... right?

[BEE C]

heres a picture of my worst rookie mistake being cleaned up, (so far).  There was sugar syrup oozing everywhere!  The bees cleaned it up in a day.  Not even sticky.

[Joseph Clemens]

:?

I have now collected a small, 2 gallon plastic pail of honey filled burr comb. I have tried to get the bees to clean it up. I can't even get them to, even when I place some at their entrances. I guess, as long as the Mesquite flow is on they just won't bother even cleaning up.  :roll: