Package Bees
Storing your package:
1) Keep bees cool and well ventilated - they will overheat !
2) A few dead bees in the bottom of package is normal
3) It is best to hive the package right away (just before dark) but if you must keep them overnight- lightly mist the screen side with sugar water.
Installing your package:
Your beehive should be properly assembled , painted and placed in its permanent location before installing your bees.
This is one way to install bees. (there are many)
Suit up with proper gear. Mist the screen of your package with thin sugar water. Do not overspray.
Remove 5 frames from your beehive (set aside temporarily) slide the remaining 5 frames to one side of the box. Use the hive tool to pry wooden lid off top of bee package - exposing the can of sugar water provided by the shipper. Firmly tap the package on the ground to settle all bees to bottom (dont tap too hard !) Lift the can out of the package. Next to the can you will find a shipping strap that is holding the Queen cage. Remove queen cage and temporarily replace the lid on package. Inspect queen to be sure she is alive.
You must remove the cork from the candy (white stuff) end of the cage. !!! You must NOT remove the cork from the other end.
Place the queen cage securely between two of the 5 frames remaining in the hive box with the exposed candy end facing up.
Mist your bee pack again and lightly tap causing bees to fall to bottom of package. Pour a small amount of bees on top of the area where you placed the queen cage. Sit the package containing the remainder of the bees into the beehive with the open top facing up. Close your beehive. Bees will crawl out of pack and cluster around the queen during the night.
((Some people choose to shake all the bees out of the package into the hive and replace the removed frames right away- this is okay and saves having to open the hive again the next day.))
Feed Your Bees
Sugar water provided by some type of feeder helps stabilize the hive. Keep refilling your feeder as needed.
The next day you can remove the empty bee package and replace the removed frames. Do Not bother the bee cluster. Close the hive.
** Keep your bees fed (Kerry recommends waiting 10 days to check for queen release and acceptance.) If you can not wait 10 days, wait at least 4 days from package installation to see if the queen has been released from her cage. If she has not been released you may at this time, poke a small hole in the candy (do not poke the queen).. Check again 4 days later.
The most common problems beginers have with package bees is: not feeding them properly and "looking at them too much" in the beginning. Keep them fed and let them "bee" until they have settled in.
1) Keep bees cool and well ventilated - they will overheat !
2) A few dead bees in the bottom of package is normal
3) It is best to hive the package right away (just before dark) but if you must keep them overnight- lightly mist the screen side with sugar water.
Installing your package:
Your beehive should be properly assembled , painted and placed in its permanent location before installing your bees.
This is one way to install bees. (there are many)
Suit up with proper gear. Mist the screen of your package with thin sugar water. Do not overspray.
Remove 5 frames from your beehive (set aside temporarily) slide the remaining 5 frames to one side of the box. Use the hive tool to pry wooden lid off top of bee package - exposing the can of sugar water provided by the shipper. Firmly tap the package on the ground to settle all bees to bottom (dont tap too hard !) Lift the can out of the package. Next to the can you will find a shipping strap that is holding the Queen cage. Remove queen cage and temporarily replace the lid on package. Inspect queen to be sure she is alive.
You must remove the cork from the candy (white stuff) end of the cage. !!! You must NOT remove the cork from the other end.
Place the queen cage securely between two of the 5 frames remaining in the hive box with the exposed candy end facing up.
Mist your bee pack again and lightly tap causing bees to fall to bottom of package. Pour a small amount of bees on top of the area where you placed the queen cage. Sit the package containing the remainder of the bees into the beehive with the open top facing up. Close your beehive. Bees will crawl out of pack and cluster around the queen during the night.
((Some people choose to shake all the bees out of the package into the hive and replace the removed frames right away- this is okay and saves having to open the hive again the next day.))
Feed Your Bees
Sugar water provided by some type of feeder helps stabilize the hive. Keep refilling your feeder as needed.
The next day you can remove the empty bee package and replace the removed frames. Do Not bother the bee cluster. Close the hive.
** Keep your bees fed (Kerry recommends waiting 10 days to check for queen release and acceptance.) If you can not wait 10 days, wait at least 4 days from package installation to see if the queen has been released from her cage. If she has not been released you may at this time, poke a small hole in the candy (do not poke the queen).. Check again 4 days later.
The most common problems beginers have with package bees is: not feeding them properly and "looking at them too much" in the beginning. Keep them fed and let them "bee" until they have settled in.