I posted this on a local club forum elsewhere too, but feeling a little anxious for the poor queen so posting here too.
I picked up a hive from a fellow beek. It was a weak split. When I did my first full inspection yesterday, there was no queen, which wasn't a complete surprise given the behavior of the bees for the prior 3 days of settling in.
Anyway, today I went to replace the syrup jar when a few feet away was a queen walking around. I wasn't sure if it was theirs so put her a bit closer to the hive when a few bees immediately came over and jumped her. I saved her, but figure either she was their queen and was evicted, or is ??? I actually am not certain what else she might be as she definitely isn't from my other hive.
She didn't try to fly away at all and right now is resting indoors. Is she a defective queen? Should I try to introduce her to the queenless hive? What are the options? (I was already planning to get a new queen tomorrow.)
I picked up a hive from a fellow beek. It was a weak split. When I did my first full inspection yesterday, there was no queen, which wasn't a complete surprise given the behavior of the bees for the prior 3 days of settling in.
Anyway, today I went to replace the syrup jar when a few feet away was a queen walking around. I wasn't sure if it was theirs so put her a bit closer to the hive when a few bees immediately came over and jumped her. I saved her, but figure either she was their queen and was evicted, or is ??? I actually am not certain what else she might be as she definitely isn't from my other hive.
She didn't try to fly away at all and right now is resting indoors. Is she a defective queen? Should I try to introduce her to the queenless hive? What are the options? (I was already planning to get a new queen tomorrow.)