dan k 1
04-29-2009, 07:00 PM
how much time do the bees need before they start leaving the hive after they are installed? I'm at one full day now and I know I must sound like a kid saying are we there yet. Ive only seen a couple go in and out of the hive. Still some hanging around outside that are slow moving. It was a bit cool here today and some rain this morning.
thanks
dan
RayMarler
04-29-2009, 07:30 PM
The queen needs to be released from her cage, and can take up to 10 days or more to start laying eggs. I advise looking in after three days to see if queen has been released and then again 14 days after she's been released to see how they doing.
LenInNorCal
04-29-2009, 08:50 PM
Did you release the queen? They're not a swarm capture, are they? If it is cool they may not be up to flying around gathering nectar and pollen. Did they fly around in circles in front of the hive when you initially put them in there? Was that orienteering done by a bunch of them? If you put them in at night, then there's no sun to orient themselves. Maybe they they will teach you patience, as I know mine try.
Like Ray wrote, she ain't laying, and there's not to many places to lay on the first day, so let them build. Give them 1:1 sugar water so there will be something to build with, and then you may consider, in a few days, some protein for her, if you can get it. That stimulates her to lay....but then again that is why patience is a virtue!