Installing Package Sugar or Smoke

DayValleyDahlias · February 27, 2013, 05:30:12 PM

Hello Dear Beeks,

It has been a while since I have installed a package...I can't recall if I used sugar or smoke...which do you all prefer and why?

Many thanks,

Sharon

iddee · February 27, 2013, 05:50:23 PM

Smoke reaches all of them. Think about the 50 or so the sugar doesn't reach.

Jim134 · February 27, 2013, 07:48:08 PM

Quote from: iddee on February 27, 2013, 05:50:23 PM
Smoke reaches all of them. Think about the 50 or so the sugar doesn't reach.

IMHO Sugar water 1 to 1
iddee....
Where is the honey the bees are going to eat ???

BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

10framer · February 27, 2013, 07:55:13 PM

sugar water. packaged bees should have a "swarm mentality" and swarming bees are usually pretty gentle.

AllenF · February 27, 2013, 07:57:06 PM

I use both. Syrup to hold them for a while. Smoke when I am dumping them.

iddee · February 27, 2013, 10:51:41 PM

Truthfully, I don't use either, but if I did, it would be smoke. Smoke does more than make them gorge on honey. Sugar water does nothing for the ones it doesn't get on.

Mouse · February 27, 2013, 11:00:57 PM

would the weather have an impact on what you used? I installed on a very cold day in april last year (it was snowing) and I've wondered since if being wet in that cold was part of the reason my one hive never thrived, and died. (there were, granted, other reasons.... I'm just wondering if this was a contributing factor.) It just seems to me that maybe spraying them with liquid when it's really cold out might not help them much, but it was what "everyone" said to do.... :?

Joe D · February 27, 2013, 11:27:43 PM

I would go with Allen, a little of both.

Joe

iddee · February 27, 2013, 11:39:58 PM

Below 50 F. I would do neither. I would remove feeder can and set the box in the hive with 5 frames. Then go back in a day or two, release the queen, and remove the cage. Finish filling the box with frames and feed heavily.

Michael Bush · February 28, 2013, 10:58:38 AM

A package is like swarm. It needs pheromones to get organized. Smoke interferes. I use neither smoke nor sugar. Unless they are out of syrup, then I would use some sugar on the screen to get them fed before opening the package. Hunger bees are no happy bees... but be careful you don't soak the bees in syrup. They will die if there is too much syrup on them. I have seen too many soggy dying bees in my time...

T Beek · February 28, 2013, 11:29:28 AM

Quote from: iddee on February 27, 2013, 10:51:41 PM
Truthfully, I don't use either, but if I did, it would be smoke. Smoke does more than make them gorge on honey. Sugar water does nothing for the ones it doesn't get on.

Me too, packages are pretty docile.