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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Grafton, Ohio, USA
    Posts
    185

    Default No attendants in queen cage.

    Just hived a package today that didnt have any attendants in it. New to this so all i have to go by is what was said at beek class and here! it was a so called california queen cage if that makes any difference? Also was a heck of a lot more bees than a 3lb package...this compared to a "3 lb" package they dumnped in class! Hardly any dead in the bottom either!!! Plus the queen was obviously very healthy the way she was moving around in the cage!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Blair,WI,USA
    Posts
    2,527

    Default Re: No attendants in queen cage.

    Some queens will come with the attendants on the outside of the cage. I've never gotten a queen with attendants on the inside and I have used hundreds.
    Leer Family Honey Farm-Shannon Leer

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Pepperell, MA.
    Posts
    3,493

    Default Re: No attendants in queen cage.

    It's very common for the queen to be alone inside the cage.
    "My wife always wanted girls. Just not thousands and thousands of them......"

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    VENTURA, California, USA
    Posts
    3,620

    Default Re: No attendants in queen cage.

    You probably have a California mini cage.
    When a pakage crew goes into the field they bring all their equipment for shaking and filling the cages and they also bring the queen bank so that the operation runs smoothly.
    Good luck with your bees,
    Ernie
    Ernie
    My websitehttp://bees4u.com/

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Grafton, Ohio, USA
    Posts
    185

    Default Re: No attendants in queen cage.

    Thanks folks..

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Azle Texas USA
    Posts
    371

    Default Re: No attendants in queen cage.

    Over past 3 years of buying queens,from all over USA, never had one without attendents. If they arived alive--I'd bee very suprised.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    Greenwood, Nebraska USA
    Posts
    39,809

    Default Re: No attendants in queen cage.

    I've never gotten a package with attendants in the queen cage.
    Michael Bush bushfarms.com/bees.htm "Everything works if you let it."
    My book: ThePracticalBeekeeper.com

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Murfreesboro, TN, USA
    Posts
    1,406

    Default Re: No attendants in queen cage.

    Must be a regional thing. Everyone I talk to here always have attendants with the queens. Most queens/packages around here come out of GA.
    De Colores,
    Ken

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Galt, CA
    Posts
    880

    Default Re: No attendants in queen cage.

    I've only ordered queens once, but they did come with 3 or 4 attendants in each cage. They were purchased thru Kona Queen. I would order from them again and might if 2 of these recently caught swarms don't cool down.

    Craig

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    Greenwood, Nebraska USA
    Posts
    39,809

    Default Re: No attendants in queen cage.

    Queens that are not in packages should always have attendants.
    Michael Bush bushfarms.com/bees.htm "Everything works if you let it."
    My book: ThePracticalBeekeeper.com

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Blair,WI,USA
    Posts
    2,527

    Default Re: No attendants in queen cage.

    Not when you are getting them in large quantities. The attendants can be on the outside. I always get queens shipped to me in groups of 100 or more. They never have attendants in the cage. If you are getting small numbers of queens then it may be easier for the supplier to have the attendants in with the queen.
    Leer Family Honey Farm-Shannon Leer

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Munfordville, Ky. U.S.A.
    Posts
    1,236

    Default Re: No attendants in queen cage.

    Thank you Mr. Bush for another answer. As I was reading the threads I was wondering why the differience, then you answered it. Now the next question. Why attendants without package and none with? I assume I know but you know what assume does.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Brightwater,Nelson,New Zealand
    Posts
    142

    Default Re: No attendants in queen cage.

    queens need attendants always so if they are in a package the queen will be in her cage in with the bees that make up the package.
    If it's just a queen in a cage not part of a package then she has to have the bees inside with her.
    Either way she has attendants and as Micheal said if she dosn't she wont last long.
    kiwi

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    Greenwood, Nebraska USA
    Posts
    39,809

    Default Re: No attendants in queen cage.

    Basically a queen can't feed herself. The bees outside (as in a package) will feed her through the screen. If there are no bees outside to feed her, then you need bees inside to feed her. Since you have to catch the attendants and put them in the cages, most package producers don't bother with attendants. On the other hand if you have a bunch of queens that you already put the attendants in, it's easier to leave them...
    Michael Bush bushfarms.com/bees.htm "Everything works if you let it."
    My book: ThePracticalBeekeeper.com

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Grosse Ile, Michigan, USA
    Posts
    1,670

    Default Re: No attendants in queen cage.

    Just hived 10 packages from California yesterday, all packages came with queens inside the packages, but no attendants in the queen cage, also there was no candy for the bees to chew through, just a cork at one end of the cage. I direct released them all, and there was no problem.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Fallsburg, KY
    Posts
    302

    Default Re: No attendants in queen cage.

    I recieved 3 queens about a week ago from Walter T Kelly, all had 4 workers in the cage with each queen, but they were queens only and no packages.
    Mike , Proverbs 24:13-14 Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Fairfield County, Connecticut, USA
    Posts
    3,062

    Default Re: No attendants in queen cage.

    Quote Originally Posted by Michael Bush View Post
    I've never gotten a package with attendants in the queen cage.
    I had attendants in the queen cage of a package that came from Wilbanks this past weekend. The packages looked great.
    BeeCurious............... Trying to think inside the box...

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