[kopeck]

So, I went to pinch a queen that I need to replace (the new queen is coming Friday).

I had her in my fingers the she just slipped out and flew off. I saw her circle around a few times (kind of like a bus flying) then she was gone. I stood by the colony for a minute or two to see if she would come back.

So, do I need to go in and look for her tomorrow?

K

 

[MikeJ]

Last year I had a mess of queen cells. Don't ask why but I was opening them up and queens were everywhere. They would fly away and after a little while land back at the hive.
I would guess she is probably in the hive already.

 

[Kingfisher Apiaries]

Seems like sometimes they come back, some times not. How old was she?
Kingfisher

 

[kopeck]

Seems like sometimes they come back, some times not. How old was she?
Kingfisher

My guess, (she was from a swarm but it was a swarm from one of my colonies) maybe a much as a few years old.

She was laying really spotty so age wise it doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility.

I can look again tomorrow, I just hate to disrupt them more then I have to, especially with me having to go back in Friday to install the new queen.

K

 

[cdanderson]

I would just wait until Friday. I've had this happen more times that I would like to admit and so far..she has always returned.

 

[kopeck]

I would just wait until Friday. I've had this happen more times that I would like to admit and so far..she has always returned.

So remove the queen and introduce a new one at the same time?

I've never tried it that way, I've always waited 24-48 hours.

If the weather was better I would wait until Saturday but it looks like it's going to be a wash out.

At least I'm not the only one to have had this happen!

Thanks,

K