Question re: unusual installation (or is it?)

[Hannah-Davida]

I've been so razzed about getting my first nuc and queen! I was fortunate to find a supplier locally and my Bee-Sensai has graciously provided me with all the houseware that I require to get up and rolling. You can understand why I'm excited.  :-D Then this morning I get a call from the Beekeeper finalizing pick-up, fees etc. Rather than providing a nuc for me to establish at home, as I thought was Standard Operating Procedure, he asked me to bring a super with 5 frames to his farm. He will then install the bees himself and off I go on my merry way to transport the lot to my selected site. My question is....how usual is this method of installing bees? Also, with this method is there anything I should be particularly aware of? (Besides blocking egress/access and allowing time for the poor buggers to settle down)
Thanks for your kind attention!

[Kirk-o]

I have gotten packages in the mail and installed them in my own equipmen before.Last weekend I drove to Arizona 525 miles one way to get two nuc"s
the Lady I got them from took me out to the be yard we picked two strong hives took out five frames of bees got the queen put her in I had them screened so they couldn't get out put them on the front seat of my truck drove home.If you can accompany your supplier while he puts the bees in that would be good experience.What ever works for each suppler is what they do.The Lady I got mine from used my box but her frames it worked good.
kir-0

[Hannah-Davida]

Thanks Kirk,
I appreciate your reply. I will indeed be watching and learning as the big transfer takes place! It's good to know this isn't too unusual of a practice.  :)

[livetrappingbymatt]

kirk-o's right should be great learning experiance.remember the only stupid question that you can ask your supplier is not to have some!
bob

[Michael Bush]

>My question is....how usual is this method of installing bees?

For nucs for pickup, it's typical.  It saves you having to buy a nuc from the supplier to transport them.

>Also, with this method is there anything I should be particularly aware of?

Just pay attention to what he gives you.  You should get three frames with some brood on them and two with honey and/or pollen.  There shouldn't be empty frames unless that was his arrangement with you and there shouldn't be four frames of honey and only one of brood.

> (Besides blocking egress/access and allowing time for the poor buggers to settle down)

I wouldn't do that.  As soon as you get them where you want them, you can open them up.  Of course you should have a veil on.  They may be quite docile or they may be wound up.  You never can tell, but I'd be prepared to open up and immediately walk away.

[Dane Bramage]

ditto what MB said + I would recommend that you leave your brood supers atop the host hives as long as possible.  Perhaps get the frames picked and placed and then let your brood box fill in over lunch or something prior to packing them up and taking them back.  If my experience is anything to go by, you'll get a load of bees and a very active hive with this method.

[Hannah-Davida]

Thanks all, I am very reassured!

[Dane Bramage]

yw
     & one addendum 

Something else occurred to me regarding optimizing this 'super-frame swap' technique (<~beek term for this proc.?). 
I think my having a feeder frame + pollen patty may have also helped populate my brood chamber effectively.  This was my first and only experience thus far, so this is hypothesis as opposed to evidence, but... "bee dance = easy, plentiful & yummy food one chamber up" ~> couldn't see it hurting.   If you decide to try it take care to put minimal syrup in the feeder(s) to avoid spillage during the move (one cup worked for me).

ETA ~> it may also be good form to bring 5 new frames (make/style of the supplier beek's liking) to exchange.  And it wouldn't be a faux pas (I hope, lol) to check a few drone larvae (for mites) as well as inquire about treatment history.

Cheers,
Dane