Please excuse my stating the obvious, but, if these were wooden queen cages, did you check the other side?  Every wooden queen cage I have received as far back as I can remember has had two corks, one backed by candy, which is the one you remove, and the other clear, which is the one the beek uses to put the queen in the cage.  Could it be you just happened to open the wrong side?  I know it's like asking if you checked to see if he computer that is not working is actually plugged into the power outlet, but, since I have tried (unsuccessfully) to operate a computer in that fashion, I will ask the obvious and deal with the fallout.

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Bill 
Claremont, NH
+43° 21’ 25”  -72° 23’ 01”
+43.35687     -72.3835
CWOP: D5065
Weather Underground: KNHCLARE3
HonetBeeNet: NH001

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