Queen release question

[Roscommon Acres]

Last year when we got our packages, the queen bee was in a little box with two holes and a candy plug and she had a couple attendants. The release went fine.

This year I just have little box with the queen bee and a cork plug. I can't find any information on how to release her or care for her until she is released. Will the other bees feed her through the cage? Do I just give her a couple days and then pull out the cork? Will they eventually chew through the cork?

Thanks!

[robherc]

1. Yes, the bees will feed her through the cage.

2. Yes, you can release her yourself in a couple days if you want.

3. You could also pull the cork out, and stuff a marshmallow (or a couple mini marshmallows squished together) in the hole to make your own "candy plug" ... I've heard from several others that the "marshmallow method" works well for them.

[Rube63]

They can NOT chew through the cork...

[Roscommon Acres]

Awesome! Thanks!

[mrobinson]

You've got three good choices to consider. One is to direct-release: use a pin to prize out the non-candy cork, cover the hole with your finger, set her on bottom cage-up so that the way's clear. (Lightly dampen her wings with water-only if you want to.) Another is to use the breeder's candy; remove that cork. A third is to use a bit of marshmallow as your own candy. I put the cage down where it wouldn't be in the way. I found no need to rush in closing-up the hive.

[Roscommon Acres]

Cool. I think I'm going for a direct-release, set for this afternoon if I can get the courage up to open the hive. You can maybe tell I'm really new at this but I've been stung three times and my children twice. Last year, the only sting we had all season was from the bee my daughter picked up by the wings.

They seem calmer today. Only one inspected me. Yesterday, they were headbutting me and pulling my hair even though I was 30 feet away!

[jadell]

I used a jelly bean in an emergency at a friend's this year. Worked great.