Installing Packages in Cold Weather

[mike]

Hello,

I'm a first year beekeeper starting with 2 packages of Carniolans. I'm using all Medium 10-frame equipment. I'm picking up my bees tomorrow but I am concerned about installing them in the less than ideal weather conditions we're supposed to see in SE Michigan this week (see attachment for forecast).

Any advice? Should I delay the installation for a few days? If so, how would you recommend I store the packages? If not, should I do anything differently to help the hives through the string of bad weather?

Also one other question: since I'm using all Mediums, how many should I use at first? I was thinking two since that's closer to the size of a Deep but now I'm second guessing that since I've read that it's easier for bees to cluster during cold weather in a smaller hive? If two Mediums is recommended, where should I hang the queen cage to ensure that they cluster around her and she isn't left out to freeze accidentally?

Now that the bees are finally arriving I'm realizing how many questions I still have haha. Thanks in advance for your advice!

[buzzbee]

Are you installing on bare foundation ?
If you have some method of feeding inside the hive, You should be able to install during the warmest part of your day. Just be as quick about it as you can once you start the process. I have similar weather conditions here, but likely will install today if the winds die down.
If you would rather wait, lift that feeder can just a bit and see if the can still has syrup or is near empty.(That is the case here.)
If you choose to wait, try to keep them in a dark cool area(like a basement perhaps) and mist the screen lightly a few times a day to give them some nourishment.And keep the syrup to them after install until they start getting established. The bee population will be decreasing for a while as older foragers die off until newly emerging bees overcome the daily losses.   
After Tuesday night it looks like you will have some flying weather for the bees.
  Good Luck!

[BeeMaster2]

What Bussbee said.
Only use one medium until they have drawn out the first seven frames and pretty well cover them.
Too much space, especially in cold weather is a real problem for them.
Jim

[Rurification]

Welcome to the forum.  Good luck with the installation.

[GSF]

Beemaster has an excellent you tube video on installing package bees.

[buzzbee]

How did the package install go?