A BEE thread....for those interested in beekeeping.

[CherMoz]

This is our third year beekeeping. We lost our hive this last winter and just got two new nucs picked up today. When removing the cap on the queen block, the hole was not plugged quickly enough and the queen flew off. Any advice for us?? We have called the supplier to see if they have any queens, but we have not heard back from them. I'm hoping for some quick responses in case we need to move quickly on this.

THANK YOU!!

 

[1muttsfan]

Oh what a shame! There was not a candy plug in place?

 

[Stacykins]

This is our third year beekeeping. We lost our hive this last winter and just got two new nucs picked up today. When removing the cap on the queen block, the hole was not plugged quickly enough and the queen flew off. Any advice for us?? We have called the supplier to see if they have any queens, but we have not heard back from them. I'm hoping for some quick responses in case we need to move quickly on this.

THANK YOU!!

Does the nuc have a lot of brood and eggs? If so, they may be able to create their own queen. If not, does the other nuc have brood and eggs? If yes, steal a frame of eggs from them (make sure you don't take a frame with the queen hiding on it, you must identify her and make sure she stays in her hive). You need them to be eggs! Shake off bees, and add that frame into the queenless hive. They will rapidly create queen cups and produce royal jelly to nourish new queens. One will survive out of the lot. Provided you have enough drones in your hive/the area, she will emerge, mate with a bunch of drones, and get down to business making more bees.

 

[CherMoz]

Sorry, they were not nucs, they were packages, so no brood and no eggs!

 

[CherMoz]

No candy plug, but a cork plug, to be removed and replaced with a marshmallow.

 

[Stacykins]

Sorry, they were not nucs, they were packages, so no brood and no eggs!

Ahh because you said nuc...I assumed there were frames of brood and whatnot.

Contact ALL bee suppliers you can, pronto! Get a queen shipped to your via express mail or overnighted.

 

[1muttsfan]

Ugh, it really would be safer if they put a candy plug in before corking it. So sorry! Hope they can get you a new queen quickly.

 

[CherMoz]

We've got a line on a new queen available for pickup tomorrow. Just another round trip drive of three hours. Let's just say lesson learned! Thanks for the help!

 

[Happy Chooks]

We've got a line on a new queen available for pickup tomorrow. Just another round trip drive of three hours. Let's just say lesson learned! Thanks for the help!

Glad you could get one so quickly!

 

[1muttsfan]

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