Combining packages

[Moonshae]

I have three packages coming next week, and I don't really have enough equipment available for them (although I could get by for now and buy more in the meantime). I was thinking instead that I could combine the packages somehow. My hives as they stand are currently two overwintered, well populated hives, two hives started from packages in mid April (still in single deeps), a hive started from a swarm a few days ago (single deep), and a hive from the cutout I did yesterday. I have enough equipment for one full hive, with a few parts to spare, and two empty 5-frame nucs. Here are my potential plans:

1. Install one package into the last full hive. Use the bees in each of the remaining packages to supplement the two hives started as packages in mid April, using the newspaper combine method. Take two frames of brood and adhering bees from each of these hives, and use them to start 2 5-frame nucs with the queens from the packages.

2. Install 2 packages into two deeps, and combine them immediately with the newspaper method, keeping one queen out. Split the remaining package and two queens between 2 5-frame nucs.

3. Other suggestions?

It's too late to cancel any of the package orders, unfortunately, and I can't immediately invest in more equipment.

[Michael Bush]

I would install a package in a five frame nuc every time if I had one.  That is my prefered size for installing a package.

[indypartridge]

3. Other suggestions?

If you have nucs to put them in, I'd go that route.

But as far as an "other suggestion": talk to beeks in your bee club. Anyone need a package? Maybe someone had higher-than expected winter losses and didn't order in time, or order enough. This might be an opportunity to help out another beekeeper.