I had a message on our answering machine when I got home from work telling me that my bees from Walter Kelly had arrived, but that I must sign for them because they were insured. (Otherwise they would have left them on my porch). I will call and pick them up personally first thing tomorrow and hive them as soon as the temperature breaks 50 (I hope this is the right point). I am curious if I need to take any special measures since they were in the box this long. I am hiving them on fully drawn comb with several frames of pollen and honey. I will also add baggie feeders of 1:1 on top of the bars. Will this be enough?
Make sure they don't go hungry until you hive them. A baggie feeder should do.
Michael,
How the heck would you get a baggie feeder in the cage with out a complete mess !
Would not spraying the cage with sugar water be quicker and easier if the syrup can was empty ?
My simple mind just wandering.
Bee-Bop
I have had packages that arrived on a less than desirable day to install. I kept them in the basement a couple days, spraying the screen with sugar water periodically and they did fine. Certainly giving them drawn comb, pollen and honey frames along with a baggie when you install will give them a good start. My packages from Walter T. Kelley are do to arrive the 22nd. Good luck.
David
>>I am hiving them on fully drawn comb with several frames of pollen and honey. I will also add baggie feeders of 1:1 on top of the bars.
>How the heck would you get a baggie feeder in the cage with out a complete mess !
You wouldn't. He was talking about putting on the top bars.
Michael;
Sorry I misunderstood Your instructions;
> Make sure they don't go hungry till you hive them. a baggie feeder will do.
Just sounded to me as thought they had not been hived yet !
Sorry didn't have my hearing aids in.
Bee-Bop
They've not been hived yet; they are in my garage. It did not get above 48 today and the wind was fierce. It should be in the high 50's to 60' tomorrow. I am spraying the packages with 1:1 as I do not know the status of their feeder can. They were shipped Saturday, and it will be Wednesday before they are hived. I will hive them on honey and pollen and place the baggie as Michael Busch discussed. I ahve some feeders inbound and will replace the baggies with these on arrival. I am most concerned when the bees are in the box. I know I can feed them out in the hive. I am glad to hear that the spray is a good idea and that a baggie will enusre their status when hived.
Sorry. Two questions. Two answers.
>>I am curious if I need to take any special measures since they were in the box this long.
>Make sure they don't go hungry till you hive them.
>>I am hiving them on fully drawn comb with several frames of pollen and honey. I will also add baggie feeders of 1:1 on top of the bars. Will this be enough?
>A baggie feeder will do.