AMAZING! (first time hiving bees)

Rachel · April 13, 2008, 01:14:14 PM

Wow!! Yesterday was awesome! We hived 5 boxes (two were mine)...It was so cool! What do I do now??? :-D
I know I should wait a few days to see if the queen is released....I'm just so excited!! Do I check the feeders soon? I want to do SOMETHING!! It's so weird how each hive has a different "personality". One has lots of bees gathered outside, the others don't. They all did a good job cleaning out the dead though. It's just so cool!

BeeHopper · April 13, 2008, 02:18:15 PM

Welcome to Beekeeping !!!!!

Thanks for sharing your Happy Day :-D

tillie · April 13, 2008, 03:12:55 PM

What a great hobby you've begun! Sounds like a fantastic first day - hope you have many of those (how could you help it when bees are so interesting?)

Linda T in Atlanta

the kid · April 13, 2008, 06:26:37 PM

WOW Only 2 days and allready addicted ,,, sure don't take long for the addiction to set in .... but its alot better then a lot of things I can think of..
Welcome to Beekeeping ,,,, read ,learn ,,, post ?, learn ,,, learn , post so we can learn .. thats the circle.

Michael Bush · April 13, 2008, 07:36:11 PM

>I know I should wait a few days to see if the queen is released

I would have already released her. I'd go release her now... but that's me.

JP · April 13, 2008, 09:59:25 PM

Quote from: Michael Bush on April 13, 2008, 07:36:11 PM
>I know I should wait a few days to see if the queen is released

I would have already released her. I'd go release her now... but that's me.

I second that. They are already acclimated to her if its a package installation.

...JP

JordanM · April 13, 2008, 10:03:45 PM

How many days after you hived a package should you release the queen out of her cage.

Michael Bush · April 13, 2008, 10:44:55 PM

>How many days after you hived a package should you release the queen out of her cage.

I release her when I install the package.

rdy-b · April 14, 2008, 12:32:10 AM

Quote from: Jordan on April 13, 2008, 10:03:45 PM
How many days after you hived a package should you release the queen out of her cage.

four days is the norm and is what package suppliers will tell you and good suppliers will replace the queen if she fails -dont try and rush the process -especially if its your first time -100% acceptance makes for happy keepers RDY-B

indypartridge · April 14, 2008, 07:31:27 AM

Quote from: Rachel on April 13, 2008, 01:14:14 PM
I want to do SOMETHING!!

You do have a stool or chair out by your bee hives, right? Sit, watch, and enjoy your bees.

asciibaron · April 14, 2008, 09:48:54 AM

Quote from: indypartridge on April 14, 2008, 07:31:27 AM
Quote from: Rachel on April 13, 2008, 01:14:14 PM
I want to do SOMETHING!!
You do have a stool or chair out by your bee hives, right? Sit, watch, and enjoy your bees.

when my son is looking for me, he now knows to check the backyard by the hive. since installing the bees 10 days ago, i have spent more than a few hours engrossed watching the bees come and go from the hive. Saturday a very large bumblebee was checking out the hive and the bees kept chasing it off. this lasted for about 20 minutes. the hive has also attracted the attention of 2 blue jays. i wonder how many bees they are eating.

i could watch the hive all day :-D

-Steve

utahbeekeeper · April 14, 2008, 11:42:01 AM

Yes when installing a PACKAGE, as opposed to just REQUEENING just uncork the queen and let 'er go! In fact much can go wrong with candy plug . . . too old and hard or you forget to remove the candy end cork. JGP

Rachel · April 14, 2008, 11:52:12 AM

Ok...I 'll check them today and if they are not free, I'll release them! They should be plenty acclimated. The boxes were packed on Thursday.
Thanks ! :-D

poka-bee · April 14, 2008, 12:27:04 PM

Rachel, I know exactly what you are feeling cause I'm doing the same thing...even have binoculars by the window so I can watch! 1st thing in the morning I look to see if they are up yet :-D It's cold & rainy today but tomorrow if it warms up I'll check to see if my queens are out yet. I want to see what they might have done to their home, drawn comb or whatever! Yesterday I think they were doing orientation flights, didn't look like any went too far, just circled around. Today I'm gonna practice lighting my smoker.. ;)oohhh, fire! Isn't this great???
Jody

DayValleyDahlias · April 14, 2008, 12:31:26 PM

Steve Taber of Honeybee Genetics, where I bought the packages, instructed us to wait 7-10 days to check. I asked him about checking for her release in 3 days, he suggested waiting the 7-10.

Always different perspectives :shock:

Janemma · April 14, 2008, 12:34:40 PM

I am still not sure if I will get my bees this year - I am waiting to hear if the centre will get a third pallet from NZ or not...if they do then I get my bees - you have me all excited from your excitement though! I want my bees! We are going to pick up my hive and equipment this week just in case - it will be here for next year if not! I just hope it gets used this year!

Enjoy your bees!