Bee Packages and best time to hive bees in Nebraska

BabcockFarms · January 27, 2012, 11:48:26 PM

Noob questions:

I am looking for a local bee package supplier in Nebraska or northern Kansas. From what I have been reading is it is good to place an order early, like now, I have read in some places and in others closer to March as an ordering date. I have sent out a couple of emails with no reply to a couple local suppliers nor have I found anyone on-line taking orders yet. Am I looking too soon and no one is geared up for orders yet?

Hiving bees in April looks like the recommended time here in Nebraska. What are your thoughts as to the optimum to hive a bee package here?

I just getting ahead of the ball or is it reasonable to be looking for a supplier of bee packages now.

Michael Bush · January 28, 2012, 12:00:04 AM

It's a bit of a drive but you can get them in Lincoln and Auburn, Nebraska (from Honey Bee World in Lincoln, and Draper Super Bee in Auburn). They will come in on the weekend of the 6th of April and the 20th of April. Which is better requires a crystal ball, but the 20th is less likely to go wrong, but it's also likely to miss part of the early fruit bloom which will probably occur the weened before. If an early freeze kills the blooms, it's possible you'll miss all of it. On the other hand the weekend of the 6th could go any direction from beautiful weather to snow and hard freezing weather. But if things go well the ones on the 6th will be two weeks ahead of the ones on the 20th. Most years, if I get packages, I split them between the two both to divide the work and to offset some of the risk. Some years everything happens backwards and the early shipment comes when it's beautiful and the late shipment comes when there is a hard freeze...

BabcockFarms · January 28, 2012, 06:32:38 PM

I am planning on starting with hiving two hives. But I don't think that I will be making two trips, so I will have to choose a date and hope for the best. I understand that you can keep bees in the package for about a week without too much loss. So if I needed to hold off for better weather a few days I could, unless I misunderstood.

Michael Bush · January 29, 2012, 12:09:34 AM

Bees can be kept in the cage in a cool (but not cold), dark, quiet, place for several days IF you make sure they don't starve. Often they are shipped with just enough stores to get them to their destination. I refill the cans if there is a delay, take them outside, knock them to the bottom, remove the can, cover the hole so they can't fly out. If it's the kind of cans with rubber grommets and cloth, pop out the grommet and refill the can. Replace the grommet and put it back in the box (after knocking them down again of course). If it's the kind with small pin holes, then use a "church key" or a knife and make a hole just big enough to get the syrup to run in. After it is full, knead some warm beeswax and plug the hole. Make sure the can doesn't leak and then put it back. Now you can keep them for several more days. The basement is a good bet if you have one.

But as long as it's not a hard freeze going on, I've been known to install them in the snow.

BabcockFarms · January 29, 2012, 03:41:07 PM

Thanks Michael for the tips! There is a lot to learn and I am trying to absorb as much as possible before spring.

I have also been looking into building bee traps and read your article "Capturing feral bees", a great read.

If I am lucky enough to capture a feral swarm or even a domestic swarm this would be a bonus, and have planned to build two extra hives just in case the opportunity arises. I have not seen a swarm on our property, but I have seen a lot of what I think maybe feral bees working the clover I planted and on all the other blooms around here. So I thought it would be worth a try.

Michael Bush · January 29, 2012, 09:38:21 PM

>So I thought it would be worth a try.

I thin it is well worth trying. Of course if you want bees for sure, then buying the packages too is the wise thing to do.

BabcockFarms · January 30, 2012, 12:15:19 AM

Of course, I am still planning on purchasing packages for the two hives I plan to start. If I was lucky enough to capture a swarm that would be just a bonus. So I am just planning optimistically. From what I have read having at least one frame with drawn comb increases the odds. As I don't have an older frame with comb it will be more of a long shot.

Michael Bush · January 30, 2012, 12:58:11 AM

The main thing is some lemongrass essential oil. If you have that everything else is not that relevant. If you HAVE old brood comb, it would be nice, but it is certainly not necessary.

BabcockFarms · January 30, 2012, 09:45:40 PM

I have lemongrass essential oil on it's way. Now a little bit of luck on my side and I'll be set.

Duck1968 · February 01, 2012, 12:44:29 AM

NebraskaBees out of Gothenburg sells packages. He usually makes a delivery run on the weekend closest to the 15 th of April with stops in Grand Island, York, and Lincoln. Last year I got 2 of them and they did pretty well.

BabcockFarms · February 01, 2012, 08:27:50 PM

Thanks Duck!

I had found NebraskaBees but they haven't updated their website since last year. I will keep checking back.

Was last year your first year with bees?

Duck1968 · February 03, 2012, 12:01:55 AM

Last year was my second year. In 2010 I started with a small split that I got from my cousin. They struggled all year and only drew out 1 deep of wax, then starved over the winter. In 2011 I got 2 packages. I gave each one 5 frames of comb from the dead hive and they took like gangbusters. Looked in on them yesterday and so far they still both strong hives.

I too have been waiting for NebraskaBees to update their site. I think they are probably out in California getting ready for almond pollination. I know he shakes his packages when he returns with his hives from the almonds.

Brian