Rain and installing a package

Hiveyleague · March 28, 2011, 04:54:31 PM

This week it's supposed to rain on and off(in central Florida) all week.Is this a bad week to install package bees?And if so why?
Yup I'm green and new to beekeeping!!Gotta start somewhere!!

iddee · March 28, 2011, 05:19:27 PM

Between showers on a warm day is a fine time to install packages. They don't fill the air as badly, and aren't as likely to drift.

Kathyp · March 28, 2011, 05:44:23 PM

i have done it in crappy weather. even cold, crappy weather. just run it though in your mind so that you have everything ready. be aware that sometimes not all the bees will shake out, so if you can rig a little cover over the entrance to put the box protected from rain, the stragglers will find their way in. some people put the box inside the hive, but that requires that you retrieve it. better, i think, not to need to go back into the hive for a few days.

Mason · March 28, 2011, 05:46:37 PM

I installed 3 packages in the rain this weekend. It went smooth as far as I know. I'll get back to you if any problems arise but they are all still in their respective boxes this morning.

BjornBee · March 28, 2011, 06:11:58 PM

I've installed many packages where if the bees did not fall into the hive, they froze when they hit the ground. Rain would be a pleasure with some of the conditions up here. I wouldn't even wait for the rain to stop. :-D

backyard warrior · March 28, 2011, 07:40:45 PM

my bad

T Beek · March 28, 2011, 09:06:17 PM

I've had excellent success when hiving packages during rainy and cold weather in temps as low as 36F. I think they're more likely to stick around.

thomas

BjornBee · March 28, 2011, 10:39:44 PM

Quote from: backyard warrior on March 28, 2011, 07:40:45 PM
Hey Mike talking about hiving packages i never heard back when the shipment was coming Chris

That is because I have not been given a date yet.

Do me a favor....next time, PM or email me. I don't bring my business to the forum, and I don't talk to my customers through a forum.

Michael Bush · March 29, 2011, 07:31:51 AM

Works great in a light rain. I'd wait for a letup if it's pouring...

Hiveyleague · March 29, 2011, 09:54:49 AM

Thanks for all the advise folks!!!!!! :-D

woodchopper · April 05, 2011, 01:03:56 PM

Quote from: iddee on March 28, 2011, 05:19:27 PM
Between showers on a warm day is a fine time to install packages. They don't fill the air as badly, and aren't as likely to drift.

Last year we installed 7 packages on a rainy and cold day under a lawn umbrella. I couldn't believe how easy is went because they weren't flying around as much.

thegolfpsycho · April 05, 2011, 05:51:52 PM

Just installed packages during a fairly heavy snow Sunday. I place the queen cage, one good shake to cover her, inner cover on, open package over the inner cover in second hive body. Next day remove empty package, release queen, put feeder jar over slot in inner cover, see em later when jar is empty. Gave em a walkby today. Snow is melting fast, and they are bringing in pollen. They are on drawn comb, and I'm betting they make a harvestable crop before I split them mid summer.

beenerds · April 05, 2011, 06:44:09 PM

I installed 4 packages on Feb 24 in Vancouver canada and it was -2 C and below 0 for 3 days after, then started to rain and has barely let up since :? I have had a few chances to look in to see how things are going and all seems ok some brood, and larva. so I believe a little rain will be fine. good luck!!!!

Hiveyleague · April 05, 2011, 08:35:55 PM

I guess I got no worries,because we don't near that bad of weather down here in the sunshine state that ya'll up north have,but we have the summer monsoons.

Thanks again for the all the info. :-D