Package bees arrived today: cold and raining weather.

[van from Arkansas]

Every year I order some queens or package bees for genetic diversify as I raise queens.  This year I ordered 2 packages, 1 came in the mail today, another next week.

This AM was 41F and raining.  By 1:00pm the rain stopped, was 46F and warming with south wind all night.  So I kept package warm indoors till 2:00 and installed the package in their prewarmed styrofoam 6 frame nuc.

I no sooner removed the lid on the package and the cold rain poured all.  I quickly got the bees in the nuc however the queen and attendants were soaked and not moving.  I brought the queen indoors and got my hair dryer and gently dried and warmed the queen.  In minutes the queen and attendants were dry, warm, moving and acting normal so I placed them in the nuc and all appears well.

I provided one frame of capped honey, 5 frames of waxed out frames in a new styrofoam 6 frame nuc.  I have never installed a package in a nuc.  I always use a 10 frame Lang deep.  I always provide a bee package with a frame of brood, but not possible today as I would not open a hive in this cold.  So, things look good for the package, time will tell.  To date, I have 100% success with packages.  They are enjoyful to me.

Health to your bees.

[Ben Framed]

Sounds like you did a good job especially considering the weather circumstances. I hope you continue to have 100 percent success.

Phillip

[Nock]

I got two shipping on the 26th. I?m worried I may not get them on time due to all this craziness. Glad it worked out for you Van.

[Seeb]

I brought the queen indoors and got my hair dryer and gently dried and warmed the queen.

Talk about thinking outside the box - love it!

[Ben Framed]

Mr Van, I have a couple questions. I am anxious to know if your queen made it. I feel like she will be fine from the description that you shared with us as her vibrancy after a gentle drying off. The first question: When will you go back in to check on things? The second question: Treating varroa, From my understanding any time before capped brood is good.
Is there a certain time that you like to treat a new package or swarm for varroa?

Phillip Hall







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[van from Arkansas]

Mr. Ben, the queen is fine today, Tuesday.  She was released from her queen cage this day and all appears well.  The bees already attaching wax cells to my queen frame cage.

I?ll treat with Oxalic acid, provap 110 in about 7-9 days.  I want the queen laying but before capped brood.

Health to your bees.

[Ben Framed]

I am glad to hear she is fine, good news. Your timeline and reason for treatment makes perfect sense.
Thanks for sharing.
Phillip

[SkoroBees]

Excellent. I like good Bee stories!!