Checking for release of Queen after insalling package

[BEESnButterflys]

Would like to know how many days after installing a package should we check to see if the Queen was released from her cage?

[JP]

2-3 days


...JP

[iddee]

For the last 10 to 15 years, it is recommended 2 to 3 days. For many, many years prior to that, it was recommended 7 days. I still go by the old rule.
I hear too many horror stories about the new rule.

[brer]

I'm in the same situation.  My first package, did the install thursday and friday.

The queen had been in transit with the package for two days, she has been in her cage for the last three, today being the third day.

The bees are clustering around her. 

Just from what I understand about their behavior, lotsa theory and no practice.  This should mean that they have accepted her and not that they are mobbing her, I hope. 

I am figuring that at this point she has been in her cage surrounded by the bees for about five days.   Does the hive feed her when she is still in the cage and accepted?   

At what point should I intervene in the release?  I do not plan on it if I do not need to, but I would rather not lose the queen if things go wrong.

[iddee]

They will feed her.

[BeeHopper]

I've always waited a week before looking in.

[sarafina]

I've only installed 2 packages, but I waited a week before looking.  Mostly because I work and it was more convenient to install the package one weekend and remove the cage the next.  I picked up my bees, so they hadn't been with the queen for several days like bees that are shipped.

When I re-queened a hot hive on a Sun, I had to take a vacation day on Tue because I left the cork in for 2 days to increase my chances of them accepting her.  After I removed the cork and poked the hole in the candy, I didn't check until the next weekend and she had been released.

[iddee]

When you poked the hole in the candy, you removed the 2 days you waited. If you had pulled the cork Sun. and not poked the hole, she would have been released the same day she was released.

[annette]

This is a good post because I have been wondering this myself. I have installed 3 packages already in my years of beekeeping (that includes the one I installed today) I pull out the cork right away and stuff in a marshmellow for the bees to eat away. I always check in 3 days and the queens have been released.

I guess I have been lucky so far. But it seems this is another ask a beekeeper a question and receive multiple answers.

Michael Bush just direct releases his queens which I find amazing.

[annette]

This is a good post because I have been wondering this myself. I have installed 3 packages already in my years of beekeeping (that includes the one I installed today) I pull out the cork right away and stuff in a marshmellow for the bees to eat away. I always check in 3 days and the queens have been released.

I guess I have been lucky so far. But it seems this is another ask a beekeeper a question and receive multiple answers.

Michael Bush just direct releases his queens which I find amazing.

[Gabect]

I installed my first 3 packages Saturday and just pulled the cork out. Is that bad? What  kind of repercussions can that create if any? My thinking was this: The queen spent the transport time with the rest of the bees and they will have either taken or rejected her by now, so what can it hurt?
I checked yesterday and they were cleaning house. I'll check today to make sure they like the new home enough to sign the lease.

[iddee]

Gabect, would you sign a lease if the landlord was in your house rummaging through your stuff every day of the week? I never open a new package hive the first few days. I have heard of too many absconding.

[Gabect]

when I check, I'm just observing the behavior as best I can. I'm not going to open hive for a while for that reasoning. I wouldnt move it to a nosey landlord either.

[kathyp]

i wait a week.  i have been known to forget that i stuck a queen out there, and been known to forget which hive i stuck her in.

getting old sucks.

point is, they will care for her and better to leave her longer than not long enough.

[David LaFerney]

If you aren't using foundation you should not wait a whole week to check.  A package can build a lot of bad comb in a week.

[iddee]

Sorry, David, we will just have to agree to disagree. Properly installed, she should still have a week to settle in. They will never block access to her. The small area of bad comb can be taken care of easily.

Of course, if you go foundationless, you may have a point. That, to me, is wrong to begin with, but to each his own.

[kathyp]

i felt the same way about foundationless until i tried it.

  i do like to put one or at least 1 sheet in a swarm or package.  it helps them get started straight.  most of the time, strips are enough.  i don't do packages anymore and most of the time i dump swarms in whatever i have, comb or not.

whatever you do, make sure your frames are pushed together toward the middle.  if you give them space, they will build!

[Gabect]

I'm using foundationless in langs hives.So its better to wait and then open the hive as opposed to opening to make sure about the comb that David was talking about.

[kathyp]

i think it's better to wait.  you can fix wonky comb, but you can do much if you aggravate them and they leave.  give them a chance to take to the queen and get her out.  once that happens and she's laying, they are less apt to be wanting to find another home.

[Gabect]

I didn't start this post, but thank you for all of the helpful insight. I'll let you guys know in a week.