i am picking up my package this weekend and the weather forecast isn't looking very promising. other than avoiding a torrential downpour does anyone have any suggestions to make this a somewhat less unpleasant experience for the bees ?
dont let that weatehr deter you. soak them girls with sugar water and put the queen in her normal place in the box. instead of shaking the rest of them out take a second empty hive body and place on top of current box. take your package and place upside down on top of first box. close the lid and come back when its sunny to remove the pack and extra box. Dont forget to give them a little feed.
My advice - Don't let bravado or internet videos of people installing with no protective gear lull you into going without full gear. Having done this last weekend in less than favorable weather, I laxed on the gear and got about 10 stings (my hand is finally normal size after 3 days). Plus, I had more than a few crawling up pant legs, in my shoe, etc. With bad weather, many will be on the ground crawling, so wear boots and blouse your trousers. If I were to do it again, I would nestle the queen down in the empty box, put an empty deep, and shake bees inside this empty deep (over frames) on to funnel the bees into the hive. I think fewer would take to the air or go around the edges of the hive. It the temps are in 40's, the ones that wind up outside the hive probably won't make it in, so try to get all of them in the box with each shake. Have fun!
Quote from: BMAC on April 20, 2011, 03:00:02 PM
dont let that weatehr deter you. soak them girls with sugar water and put the queen in her normal place in the box.
I wouldnt let the weather deter me, but I sure wouldnt soak them down with sugar water at all and I really wouldnt soak them if the outside conditions were cold and wet. Im not an expert, but those two just dont seem to mix very well. If its cold and damp, they arent really wanting to fly around that much anyways.
thanks for the advice. believe me, i am a sissy when it comes to protective gear even though my bees have always been very calm. i can't take having things crawling on me even if they aren't stinging. i guess it can't hurt to hope for some sunshine though.
You will be fine. Put on a full suit (it will help keep you warm tomorrow anyway) and dont shake them out of the box. Just set the box on top inside an empty deep after placing the queen. You shouldn't have more than a few fly tomorrow. remember to feed them. Not much going on in my area right now so they will need food.