Packages from Bluegrass . . .

[johns bees]

All the queens i purchased last year all came with attendants in the cage. Introduced all the queens to there new hives with attendants
and
not one queen was rejected . If it was a problem why would queen producer put attendants in the cage in the first place.
Koeheon in california advertices that there queens come with attendants.

[jim lyon]

Queens keep much better in a "battery box" with free running bees in the box that can access candy and a sponge soaked in water and no attendants in the cages. However that is only feasible with larger orders. The only economical way to ship small orders is with attendants in the cages. It works fine but they should be used promptly as the health of the queen is totally dependent on the health and vitality of a relatively few workers.