Queen flew away!

[Amy3745]

Today I hived a nuc I had set up three weeks ago. I had all frames in hive when I noticed queen on bottom board of nuc box. We made eye contact and she flew about four feet into a bunch of trees. I closed up the hive and looked for her, but did not locate her. What is the chance she will be back in the hive tomarrow? How many days do I wait to check, or order a new queen. Thanks for the help.


Amy

[Sundance]

The advise often said here by those that know is to stand still at the nuc/hive for 10 or 15 minutes and there is an excellent chance she will fly right back to you. Even land on you.

When she takes off she uses you as orientation which makes it important to stay there.

There is a very good chance she'll make it back.

[peggjam]

If you left the nuc there, check it in the morning, she may have come back to that. Best thing to do is just stand still, and chances are she will fly back and land on you.

[Jon McFadden]

I had one queen walk down an 8' wall to rejoin here colony. We removed a nest in a second story joist space. The queen went into a small space we couldn't access. We left the hive with all the brood, bees and comb on the ground and came back the next day and collected her and the swarm and moved them home.

[Dick Allen]

Amy, did your queen make it home?

[Dan Williamson]

I've had several experiences like you mention. Especially with young queens and usually when I am getting ready to mark them or something.

I had one fly off of the frame I was holding. Within a couple of minutes she flew back and landed on the frame right in front of me.

I've had one fly off and I thought she was gone for good and a couple of days later I found it in the nuc.

I've also has some never to be seen again.

Standing there certainly helps but is obviously no guarantee. Sucks to lose a queen.

[Amy3745]

No queen. Ordered new one. I will have to be more careful with the next one.


Thanks for the help,


Amy

[Gregg]

Had this happen to me also with two queens the other day. One I had just marked and put back on a top frame and off she flew. The other one was still in the cage (hadn't been released yet after being in the hive for a few days), was going to grab her and mark her but she got through my fingers and off she went as well. Gave these two a frame of brood with eggs and marked to check back later, hopefully they find their way back but not counting on it.