A mostly foolproof package installation method.
(Note, this was a handout from a package installation workshop I hosted years ago. Published here for anyone who can use)
Preparations:
In advance, obtain pollen patties and prepare 1:1 sugar feed. You should also have ordered drawn comb. If you don’t have drawn comb, obtain. Hiving a package on bare, undrawn frames is a dice-roll. Fill a spray bottle with the 1:1 feed.
Plan to do installation as close to sundown as possible, to encourage the bees to stay-put and develop appreciation for their new home. Do it at lunchtime, and they may consider taking advantage of the day ahead to search for something better.
Pickup, Transport, storage:
Examine package when picking up. Dead bees on the bottom of the package is normal. More than 100 or so may indicate a problem with the package. If concerned, raise issue with the pickup coordinator so they can review with you.
Transport in a cool place, out of direct light. Don’t place beside a heater vent.
If you can’t hive immediately, store in a cool dark place. You don’t want to store more than a day or two. Spray every few hours with 1:1 (thin) sugar feed.
Personal Safety:
Packages bees will be more disoriented than aggressive. They want a new home. Stings are avoidable, but possible. I never wear a bee suit myself when hiving, but my kids do. Let your own comfort level determine, but do tuck in your pant legs to prevent stinging stowaways. Do not use smoke as it will give them bad vibes about their new home.
Actual Installation:
Preparation: Have an entrance reducer in place, and remove 4 frames from middle positions. Pull out remaining frames and spray faces with feed. Use a hive tool to remove staple fastening queen cage, but don't remove feeder can yet. Mentally prepare by reviewing and rehearsing the next steps, so you can execute with maximum flow, and minimum delay.
Pry jar out of package, set on side of hive, feeder holes up, so stragglers can escape.
Dunk queen cage in lukewarm water to prevent her flying away. Soak her. Next take the queen cage, and reach hands *into* hive, and direct release her onto or under a frame, near the bottom.
Note: Direct queen release vs indirect: Often folks will leave the queen cage in the hive, leaving it to the bees to release her themselves. This is fine, but the bees already know the queen from transport. Direct release, done right, lets her get started laying sooner. Done wrong, and your queen will fly away.
Invert package and bang to drop bees into hive, into the opening between frames. After the first bang, they will hold on tight. Don’t be gentle. You want them all out of the package. Once 95+% out, move package around 10 feet away.
Gently replace the four middle frames. Place two pollen patties to either side of center.
Optional: Pry the top off the feeder jar lid, and gently shake the bee/feed soup over the frames. Ideally the rest of the bees will eat the feed and free the bees that remain trapped in the feed. Otherwise, dispose feeder can with package.
Replace inner cover, as well as hive top or bucket feeder. Feeders should be filled with syrup. Replace outer cover.
Disposal of package boxes:
- The package boxes smell like home, and if left near the hives, bees may leave hives and return to package boxes. Do everything you can to bang every last straggler out, either on top of or in front of hives. Remove packages from the site.
Followup:
Don’t disturb the hive for a week. Let them get used to their new home in peace. After a week, inspect hive to ensure it’s queenright. If you have queen problems, there’s a limited window to replace. If you can’t find the queen, get an experienced second set of eyes to verify before reaching out to supplier.
Remember: Plans almost never go according to plan, but it’s nonetheless important to have one. Use a plan to start with, and adapt along the way with experience. If you don’t yet have experience, fall back to knowledge. Make your best guess, and things will almost always be ok. The more experience and knowledge you have, the better you will be able to adapt.
