Package bees: How long can they wait?

Pond Creek Farm · March 30, 2009, 08:20:01 PM

I had a message on our answering machine when I got home from work telling me that my bees from Walter Kelly had arrived, but that I must sign for them because they were insured. (Otherwise they would have left them on my porch). I will call and pick them up personally first thing tomorrow and hive them as soon as the temperature breaks 50 (I hope this is the right point). I am curious if I need to take any special measures since they were in the box this long. I am hiving them on fully drawn comb with several frames of pollen and honey. I will also add baggie feeders of 1:1 on top of the bars. Will this be enough?

Michael Bush · March 30, 2009, 09:30:55 PM

Make sure they don't go hungry until you hive them. A baggie feeder should do.

Bee-Bop · March 31, 2009, 11:19:32 AM

Michael,
How the heck would you get a baggie feeder in the cage with out a complete mess !
Would not spraying the cage with sugar water be quicker and easier if the syrup can was empty ?

My simple mind just wandering.

Bee-Bop

dpence · March 31, 2009, 03:04:48 PM

I have had packages that arrived on a less than desirable day to install. I kept them in the basement a couple days, spraying the screen with sugar water periodically and they did fine. Certainly giving them drawn comb, pollen and honey frames along with a baggie when you install will give them a good start. My packages from Walter T. Kelley are do to arrive the 22nd. Good luck.

David

Michael Bush · March 31, 2009, 07:57:06 PM

>>I am hiving them on fully drawn comb with several frames of pollen and honey. I will also add baggie feeders of 1:1 on top of the bars.
>How the heck would you get a baggie feeder in the cage with out a complete mess !

You wouldn't. He was talking about putting on the top bars.

Bee-Bop · March 31, 2009, 10:58:56 PM

Michael;
Sorry I misunderstood Your instructions;

> Make sure they don't go hungry till you hive them. a baggie feeder will do.

Just sounded to me as thought they had not been hived yet !

Sorry didn't have my hearing aids in.

Bee-Bop

Pond Creek Farm · March 31, 2009, 11:09:36 PM

They've not been hived yet; they are in my garage. It did not get above 48 today and the wind was fierce. It should be in the high 50's to 60' tomorrow. I am spraying the packages with 1:1 as I do not know the status of their feeder can. They were shipped Saturday, and it will be Wednesday before they are hived. I will hive them on honey and pollen and place the baggie as Michael Busch discussed. I ahve some feeders inbound and will replace the baggies with these on arrival. I am most concerned when the bees are in the box. I know I can feed them out in the hive. I am glad to hear that the spray is a good idea and that a baggie will enusre their status when hived.

Michael Bush · April 01, 2009, 08:34:55 PM

Sorry. Two questions. Two answers.

>>I am curious if I need to take any special measures since they were in the box this long.
>Make sure they don't go hungry till you hive them.

>>I am hiving them on fully drawn comb with several frames of pollen and honey. I will also add baggie feeders of 1:1 on top of the bars. Will this be enough?
>A baggie feeder will do.