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Wednesday night our local beek group hosted Dwight Porter, who very kindly brought me a Russian queen. I had already planned to split my Cordovan hive yesterday--keeping the Cordie in one deep and introducing the Russian into the other.
Early yesterday morning (before 9 am) I separated the deeps and confirmed that the Cordie was fat, happy & in the desired box. About 6 hours later, I made my first attempt to introduce the Russian as per Dwight's instruction.
Long story short, the girls didn't take kindly to the strangers. Within seconds, there was a clump of angry buzzing about the size of a tennis ball. I grabbed the EZBZ, brushed off the workers and popped the cage back in my pocket. The Russian & her ladies weren't exactly happy either and were still buzzing by the time I got back down to the house. Gave the girls a cool drink & put them back in the dark to settle down.
This morning, totally different story. Despite being told I could place the cage in as little as 20 minutes after they were queenless, I waited the full 24 hours before trying again. :no:
Much more receptive. A large group of workers immediately surrounded the cage, but not the angry balling like yesterday. Within 30 minutes, there were still some bees on the cage but the majority were going about their business and walking on top of the frames.
Should be able to remove the orange cap on the EZBZ on Monday morning. Then give them a chance to release her on their own time. Looking much better this time around. Fingers crossed!!!
Early yesterday morning (before 9 am) I separated the deeps and confirmed that the Cordie was fat, happy & in the desired box. About 6 hours later, I made my first attempt to introduce the Russian as per Dwight's instruction.
Long story short, the girls didn't take kindly to the strangers. Within seconds, there was a clump of angry buzzing about the size of a tennis ball. I grabbed the EZBZ, brushed off the workers and popped the cage back in my pocket. The Russian & her ladies weren't exactly happy either and were still buzzing by the time I got back down to the house. Gave the girls a cool drink & put them back in the dark to settle down.
This morning, totally different story. Despite being told I could place the cage in as little as 20 minutes after they were queenless, I waited the full 24 hours before trying again. :no:
Much more receptive. A large group of workers immediately surrounded the cage, but not the angry balling like yesterday. Within 30 minutes, there were still some bees on the cage but the majority were going about their business and walking on top of the frames.
Should be able to remove the orange cap on the EZBZ on Monday morning. Then give them a chance to release her on their own time. Looking much better this time around. Fingers crossed!!!