When buying package bee how many pounds is good per hive?

[jlh]

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?

[Dale]

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.

[Hi-Tech]

The more you can get, the better. 3# is probably standard but if they had a 10#, thats what I would want

[Brian D. Bray]

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.

[jlh]

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

[Michael Bush]

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.