Guilfordbeekeepers.org

I have a strong 2 deep hive that is mean. I split it on Friday. Saturday I bought a queen, for the queen less split, and put her in the hive for 26 hours. She was in one of those introduction frames. The bees seemed to be getting along with her. Interestingly, I heard her piping. I opened the cage to let her out and when she came out, she flew away. Why would she do that. She was a mated queen. Now I'm out a queen and some $$. Is there a chance she ould come back. She didn't do any orientation that I could tell.

90% chance she came back.

Also, 90% chance they killed her after only 26 hours.

How long should I leave her in the hive before releasing her? I thought it was 24 hours?

I would say, bare minimum, 72 hours. I leave them 7 days in a candy cage and let them eat the candy out. With a release cage, 3 to 7 days would be my thoughts.