Taking a peek?

[Jas0n Bresson]

I installed 7 packages on Saturday and will have a chance to check them this wednesday or I'll have to wait until the following wednesday.I don't want to open them to early but on the other hand I don't think I want to wait 11 days in case there is something wrong with the queens. Is this Wednesday to early to check and release the queens if ness.Thanks Jason

[hfrysinger]

Feel free to take a look and make sure she is out of the cage. Let her out, or at least put a nail thru the candy if she isn't, so she can get out. You can even try to find some eggs if you wish.

[hfrysinger]

If it is cold tho, just make sure she is out, and keep the hive open for as short a time as possible.

[Oldbee]

I know I wouldn't wait 11 days more to check if the queen has been released. With packages as far as I know, the bees have accepted the queen by then; 2-4 days in shipment. Some beekeepers release the queen when they install the packages. If there may be "something wrong" with the queen/queens you can quickly order some, or combine the bees that you have that may be queenless and add a queen later.

[Jim Fischer]

Go for it!

You aren't going to "spook the bees into killing the queen" or any such
nonsense.

[Jas0n Bresson]

Thanks. This is just what I was hoping to here. I'm going in.

[Nate]

i checked and released my queen after 3 days... everything went fine. A week later both hives had 4 frames of foundation completely drawn and were working on the 5th. Eggs were also visible.

So, go for it!

[Jas0n Bresson]

All systems go 6 of 7 Queens were out and doing there thing. The 1 queen that wasn't out I almost lost while helping her out. I scraped the candy out with a nail and when I put the nail down I switched hands with the cage. I felt a bee crawling up the hand that I was previously holding the cage with and I instinctively flicked my hand. As soon as I did it I knew I was in trouble. I looked at the cage and sure enough it was empty. I stood there frozen looking at the grass were I thought she might be and after about 30 seconds I heard her buzzing and about to leave the turf. I picked her up and put her on the top bar and she walked down between the frames. Another lesson well learned.