beginner mishap

[drmwarden]

I successfully found my old queen last week and removed her and placed the new queen box in the hive.  She was released about 2-3 days later when I checked.  Yesterday evening (I had been away for several days, and the forcast was for rain)  I decided to go back into the hive to check and see if all was well.  I had a problem with my veil (I only use it for major invasion of the hive, not for feeding or routine checks) and ended up with lots of bees in my bonnet!       So I just reassembled the hive without searching farther.  The girls seem to be very busy, but I didn't actually find the queen.  Do I need to try again (once the swelling goes down so I can get my eye open)  or can I just assume all is well if they are all still there working?

[Beth Kirkley]

LOL Let the swelling go down first.
Probably all is well. You've done quite a bit for a week anyway - catching one queen, putting in another, checking once 3 days later, and trying to check again after that. Besides that, unless you FIND the queen on the next look, you won't know much until you see some eggs telling you she's in there doing her job.

Really up to you - take a break, or check again.

Beth

[Michael Bush]

>I had a problem with my veil (I only use it for major invasion of the hive, not for feeding or routine checks) and ended up with lots of bees in my bonnet!

Which is why I would ALWAYS wear one if you're opening the hive.  You catch them in a bad mood and they can mobilize a lot of bees very quickly.

[drmwarden]

I was wearing my veil, but the bees got inside! (It's now in the trash can and I have a new one).[/i]

[Horns Pure Honey]

You have to make shure that the back of your veil is below your shirt collar. bye