As a new beekeeper here are the steps that were taken to install a new bee package in a hive. Some of these pictures were taken at a session demonstrating how to install a bee package at Beech Mountain Beekeeping where I picked up my bee package on Saturday May 18th and some photos were taken in my bee yard that same day:
1. Spray a generous amount of sugar syrup on the bees.
2. Remove three to
four frames from the center of the hive.
3. Pick up the
package and sharply knock it on the ground to remove the bees from the sides
and top.
4. Using a hive tool, pry up and remove the can of sugar syrup from the package
5. Turn the package over with the opening directly over the top of the hive and shake the bees out of the shipping package directly into the frames. I didn't shake enough bees out of the cage but they eventually left the cage and went into the hive.
6. Remove the cork from the candy end of the Queen Cage for workers to eat through the candy to release the Queen.
7. Using two rubber bands securely attach the Queen Cage
to the frame which was previously removed with the mesh screen facing outwards
between frames.
8. Replace the frames that were removed in Step 2 and replace inner and top covers.
9. Pour any remaining contents of the syrup
that shipped with the Bees into the feeder jar and top off with sugar syrup.
10. If any bees are still remaining in the cage package, place in front of the hive and they will join the other bees.
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