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I am a bit concerned and need some thoughts.
Yesterday I installed a 3lb package, the seller said the queen would take maybe 3 hours to get out. I placed the queen cage at the front of the hive on the floor and dumped the rest on top. 2 hours later I looked in the window and they were all clustered in the BACK of the hive. I assumed the queen was out, and still do. I have a feeder on the other side of the follower board with the hole at the top of the follower board. There were a few in the feeder area. I was wondering then since they were at the top back, were they somewhat blocking the hole to the feeder, as the cluster was right over it. Today I took a look and they are tightly packed same location and now some are at the front bottom around the queen cage and the screened drain holes. I have my entrance at the top it is a long opening just before the first bar, like the Bush plans show. My question is since they are in the back vs front, should I be worried they are blocking the hole to the feeder? It looks packed tight. Should the follower board also have a hole lower? My gut is saying to pull the follower board and put a hole towards the bottom. or just pull the board as I have a false back also and just let the feeder be in the same area for now. On the other hand I am wondering if I should just leave them alone and not be a mother hen. Bottom line is, since the hole (1") is blocked with the cluster, will they starve?
Jerry
Yesterday I installed a 3lb package, the seller said the queen would take maybe 3 hours to get out. I placed the queen cage at the front of the hive on the floor and dumped the rest on top. 2 hours later I looked in the window and they were all clustered in the BACK of the hive. I assumed the queen was out, and still do. I have a feeder on the other side of the follower board with the hole at the top of the follower board. There were a few in the feeder area. I was wondering then since they were at the top back, were they somewhat blocking the hole to the feeder, as the cluster was right over it. Today I took a look and they are tightly packed same location and now some are at the front bottom around the queen cage and the screened drain holes. I have my entrance at the top it is a long opening just before the first bar, like the Bush plans show. My question is since they are in the back vs front, should I be worried they are blocking the hole to the feeder? It looks packed tight. Should the follower board also have a hole lower? My gut is saying to pull the follower board and put a hole towards the bottom. or just pull the board as I have a false back also and just let the feeder be in the same area for now. On the other hand I am wondering if I should just leave them alone and not be a mother hen. Bottom line is, since the hole (1") is blocked with the cluster, will they starve?
Jerry