I've just installed my first package this past Sunday, and have been observing the hive from afar over the past few days before making my first planned inspection later this week. I've noticed some potential problems and I'm not sure if they need to be addressed sooner.
(I am using a long top-bar style hive I built with an open screened bottom.)
On the ground below the hive I noticed some white powdery looking substance. On further examination it is definitely fresh wax. On the outside of the hive, on the underside, a small group of bees are clustered, apparently attempting to attach comb to the screened bottom, which is where I'm guessing the wax is falling from. Looking through the screen, I can see that inside the hive, the queen's cage has fallen from between the frames, right near where the bees are building comb on the outside.
I took some pictures of the underside of the hive, it's hard to see the queen cage in both of them though.
(Pictures could not be posted due to my low post count :/)
It looks like the queen cage landed screen down on the floor, although I can't get a good look to see if she's been released yet.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!