Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: jlh on June 24, 2006, 05:37:26 PM

Title: When buying package bee how many pounds is good per hive?
Post by: jlh on June 24, 2006, 05:37:26 PM
When buying package bee how many pounds is good per hive? I was thinking on getting 4lbs for each hive but not sure if it to much or not enough.  Can someone please advice?
Title: When buying package bee how many pounds is good per hive?
Post by: Dale on June 24, 2006, 05:56:47 PM
4 pounds is a good size.  I was thinking 3lbs, but it is almost July.  4 lbs would probably be better, especially if you are using new foundations.  If you have foundations that are already drawn, you wouldn't need as many bees.
Title: When buying package bee how many pounds is good per hive?
Post by: Hi-Tech on June 24, 2006, 08:18:42 PM
The more you can get, the better. 3# is probably standard but if they had a 10#, thats what I would want :wink:
Title: When buying package bee how many pounds is good per hive?
Post by: Brian D. Bray on June 24, 2006, 09:59:47 PM
Standard is 3 lbs, they are also available in 2 lbs, 4 lbs, and 5 lbs from various package suppliers.  Usually the more bees the higher cost but the better success rate.
Title: When buying package bee how many pounds is good per hive?
Post by: jlh on June 24, 2006, 10:06:53 PM
Thanks so much for all the information I very much apprecitate it.  Can anyone give me some bee sources for packages in CA.? any help would be helpful
Thanks June
Title: When buying package bee how many pounds is good per hive?
Post by: Michael Bush on June 24, 2006, 11:10:17 PM
If I'm picking them up I don't care if it's two or three.  If I'm having them mailed I prefer 3 to make up for losses on the way.

A four pound package really doesn't build up much faster than a two.