A few questions

841 Views 3 Replies 3 Participants Last post by nhoyt, Apr 19, 2014

nhoyt

Discussion Starter · #1 · Apr 19, 2014

First off I installed my bee yesterday around 2 or 3 pm, i checked on them this morning around 10am they were up and about and very active around the entrance. With me being new i do not know what they where doing but they seemed like they where randomly flying around there was still a small cluster still in the package so i am going to leave the package there for another nite. the sugar water i gave them last nite wasnt gone i was expecting it to be gone and another thing i noticed is they pooped a fair amount on the bee suit the hive i am taking that they did that because they were in the package for a bit, but the sugar water not being gone is that normal? and the queen has no attendences with her is that normal? I am thinking of going to take a drive up to where i have them and see how they are doingwith the sugar water.

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Vance G

· Registered

Joined Jan 6, 2011

8,658 Posts

#3 · Apr 19, 2014

I have received packages and nucs with queens in small cages with no attendants. If your syrup Is in a boardman feeder it is a long way from the cluster and the bees sometimes don't use them if anything at all Is otherwise available. Does that queen have a candy plug the bees are eating thru so she is released? Often there is tape over it that must be removed before the bees can get at the fondant plugging the hole. I wonder if you need to ratchet down a notch and let those bees get settled in their new home. Constant checking can cause them to go find a tree to live in. I would rattle those bees out of that queen cage onto the entrance if it were me I think. If it is cool they may be short of food and energy and just clustering and waiting to assume ground temperature.