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Author Topic: How (not) to release a queen  (Read 8562 times)

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Offline Papakeith

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How (not) to release a queen
« on: April 26, 2015, 07:54:09 am »
I got my packages this past Wednesday.  The installations went well, but the queens arrived in California queen cages without candy plugs.  No big deal.  It just meant that I would have to go into the hive in 3-4 days to release her.

Yesterday was that day.

It was kind of windy, but I wanted to get the queens out and into their hives.  How hard could it be, right? 

I opened up the first hive and pulled the cage out.  The queen was doing just fine in there, so I popped the cork.  What I didn't do was cover the hole until I had the cage back down to the hive.  Without warning her majesty decided to fly off!  Yep, off she went!  Up up and away. My eyes followed her for a couple of feet, but I lost her pretty quickly as my brain was still busy registering what was happening.

There should have been video.  My first reaction was to drop the cage and clap my hands together to try to catch her.   Thankfully, she was faster than my reflexes and missed my hand clap.  Surely I would have crushed her in my first attempt to collect her. Then I stood there in a stupor as I contemplated what had just happened. "Guess I'll be needing a frame of eggs or another queen" I was thinking.  Next, I decided that I might be able to find her.  Maybe she hadn't flown far. 

I spent a spent a few minutes searching the ground around the hives with no luck.  Then, I spotted her!  She was clinging to the side of a hive three hives away!  With deftness I didn't know I possessed, I reached over and picked her up first shot, carried her over to her proper home, and set her down among her subjects.  I guess she was good with the outcome, she promptly walked down into the colony.  I quickly placed the cover on the hive to ensure that she didn't change her mind and try to take flight again.

Thankfully, the remainder of my releases went without incident.  I must say, I really like the candy release.  So much less drama! :D

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Offline iddee

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Re: How (not) to release a queen
« Reply #1 on: April 26, 2015, 07:57:47 am »
Been there, done that. Got the T-shirt.  ;D

Like yours, mine have always returned after a short flight.
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Offline blueblood

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Re: How (not) to release a queen
« Reply #2 on: April 26, 2015, 08:38:50 am »
 :D Whew!
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: How (not) to release a queen
« Reply #3 on: April 26, 2015, 09:11:19 am »
Oh..   Yeah... I think I weed a little the first time that happened to me...  they were not my bees or queen!

   There is no feeling as helpless as wathing the queen fly away....
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Offline tefer2

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Re: How (not) to release a queen
« Reply #4 on: April 26, 2015, 09:40:20 am »
A good tip is to stand where you were when she flew off.
She most likely oriented to you standing there and will use you as a landmark to find her way back.
Leave the top off and watch for her to return.
If she doesn't show up, then start looking for a clump of bees on the surrounding landscape.
A mated and laying queen is normally to fat to fly very far.
Watch where you step while doing your search too.
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Offline G3farms

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Re: How (not) to release a queen
« Reply #5 on: April 26, 2015, 10:15:51 am »
Quote from: tefer2 on April 26, 2015, 09:40:20 am
Watch where you step while doing your search too.

 :yes: :yes:

Had a swarm call a couple of years ago that turned out tho be two big swarms at a brick yard. First swarm marched right in a box, but the second swarm seemed all confused. I finally spotted the queen with a little ball of bees tending her funeral after I had apparently stepped on her.  :'(  It was a real chore but finally got the second swarm in another box with the dead queen. 
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Offline Bakersdozen

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Re: How (not) to release a queen
« Reply #6 on: April 26, 2015, 11:45:43 am »
That's a valuable lesson that had a happy ending!  A queen like that deserves an appropriate name. 
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Gypsi

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Re: How (not) to release a queen
« Reply #7 on: April 26, 2015, 12:39:09 pm »
I was afraid to injure one that was outside her hive in November a couple of years ago, as a consequence she took off, a cold front came in, and the queenless hive was a deadout. I now have queen clips in all bee suit pockets and on the dash of my truck.

Good save on your part, good thing she was egg heavy and didn't go far.
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Offline Jen

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Re: How (not) to release a queen
« Reply #8 on: April 26, 2015, 03:55:41 pm »
Papakeith- "With deftness I didn't know I possessed, I reached over and picked her up first shot,

     Laughed out loud  :D
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Offline Slowmodem

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Re: How (not) to release a queen
« Reply #9 on: April 26, 2015, 07:42:15 pm »
All's well that ends well.  These are the types of lessons we tend to remember.  Well played!
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Offline Les

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Re: How (not) to release a queen
« Reply #10 on: April 27, 2015, 12:21:58 pm »
We know that helpless feeling.  Lost our queen a week after the install, we were panicky and sick.  Installed a new queen last week and hope that she is good egg layer.
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Offline Jen

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Re: How (not) to release a queen
« Reply #11 on: April 27, 2015, 02:43:23 pm »
Last year I bought 3 queens and put their cages in their soon to be homes. After I released them, I waited the recommended time before checking to see if all was well, I was so excited. The first hive I opened I found the queen freshly dead at the bottom of the hive. Such a sick and sad feeling. I put her on my kitchen window sill for a couple of days. I don't know why I did that, I do know that it made me feel better to not just toss her into the garbage ~ I'm such a sap  ;)
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Offline Les

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Re: How (not) to release a queen
« Reply #12 on: April 27, 2015, 06:42:42 pm »
Jen you are not a sap, I would probably do the same thing.  I save old bird nests LOL!  Why?  I have no clue, I just like to have them around.  I know, I know they can have parasites in them so they stay in the shed.
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Offline Jen

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Re: How (not) to release a queen
« Reply #13 on: April 28, 2015, 12:50:20 am »
Les! Are you kidding me.. LOL  I have a spice rack with no spices on it... but there is a birds nest on it  ;)


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Offline Zweefer

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Re: How (not) to release a queen
« Reply #14 on: April 28, 2015, 01:18:44 am »
I was taught to always replace the cork with a mini marshmallow, or small ball pollen patty in a pinch.  That will convert to timed release...
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Offline Papakeith

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Re: How (not) to release a queen
« Reply #15 on: April 28, 2015, 06:48:37 am »
Zweefer,  we discussed that after the fact and came to the same conclusion.  Next time we bring the marshmallows.
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Offline brooksbeefarm

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Re: How (not) to release a queen
« Reply #16 on: April 28, 2015, 11:17:35 am »
I once tried to release a queen that had been in the hive for 4 days, i held the queen cage on top of the frames when i pulled the screen off only to see her fly off :o I stood there thinking how i could be that stupid  ??? and started to put the lid back on when i seen her light on my sleeve :-[ Well i took a frame out of the hive bees and all and layed it on my arm next to her, she marched right on and all seemed happy so i put queen bees and all back in the hive. First time i've told that, thought no one would believe me anyway. 8) Jack
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Offline Barbarian

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Re: How (not) to release a queen
« Reply #17 on: April 28, 2015, 06:29:55 pm »
In this country a queen comes in a cage with 4 or 5 attendants. We are advised to release the attendants and put the cage containing the queen into the colony. There is a risk of accidently releasing the queen when opening the cage to release the attendants.

One way to avoid this, is to open the cage with both hands in a clear plastic bag.
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Offline Les

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Re: How (not) to release a queen
« Reply #18 on: April 28, 2015, 07:15:05 pm »
Barbarian, what is the logic for releasing the attendants?
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Offline brooksbeefarm

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Re: How (not) to release a queen
« Reply #19 on: April 28, 2015, 10:47:43 pm »
I've heard people say that also Les, but i never have and not had any problems? Jack
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