If you have a queen out of a hive for a few days, what are the best conditions for her and her attendants?
I have had mixed results.
I have kept Queens in delivery cages in the garage (90 degrees or so) on a plate with a wet paper towel, overnight, and they were fine. However I think the damp paper towel started to dissolve the sugar plug, so I would do it differently if I did it again.
Once I took a queen out of a hive, and kept here in a screened mason jar with attendants and a small paper towel with sugar water for 2 days inside at 74 degrees. She did OK but did not get established in her new hive.
Recently I tried the same thing, but left them in the garage (90 degrees) because I thought that was closer to hive conditions - those bees died overnight. I noticed they were initially very active, not calm.
I think they do better with a cover so they are not exposed to much light.
Your thoughts?
I have had mixed results.
I have kept Queens in delivery cages in the garage (90 degrees or so) on a plate with a wet paper towel, overnight, and they were fine. However I think the damp paper towel started to dissolve the sugar plug, so I would do it differently if I did it again.
Once I took a queen out of a hive, and kept here in a screened mason jar with attendants and a small paper towel with sugar water for 2 days inside at 74 degrees. She did OK but did not get established in her new hive.
Recently I tried the same thing, but left them in the garage (90 degrees) because I thought that was closer to hive conditions - those bees died overnight. I noticed they were initially very active, not calm.
I think they do better with a cover so they are not exposed to much light.
Your thoughts?