Added Package Bees - Entrance Reducer

[dp]

Just added package bees and have read about using an entrance reducer to keep them from leaving.  My reducers have a small and a little bit larger opening.  Which should I use?

Also, the queen came with a cork, but no candy.  I pulled the cork and stuffed some marshmellow in.  Is that okay?  Should I just make sure she is out in a week?

[VolunteerK9]

Leave it on the small entrance until you start seeing traffic jams and then increase it to the larger one. The reduced entrance sizes make it a lot easier for a non-established package to defend.

The marshmellow will be fine. I'm doing all direct releases from now on though (if i ever have to order packages again that is)

[Hethen57]

VolunteerK9:  why do you advocate all direct releases with packages?...because you figure the bees have been with the queen in that package long enough to accept her and to get her laying quicker?

[VolunteerK9]

VolunteerK9:  why do you advocate all direct releases with packages?...because you figure the bees have been with the queen in that package long enough to accept her and to get her laying quicker?

Yup, I just have done it a couple of times this year so its not like I have a lot of first hand knowledge, but here is where I first got interested.

http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,31681.0.html

Its worked for me so far.

Edit: Try here.


http://bushfarms.com/beespackages.htm

I knew I had saw it recently.