Brand new package / first bees / leads to question

[MikeG]

Hello Everyone!

I installed my first package when I was 14.  They didn't survive (probably because there wasn't a Beemaster.com forum where I could learn how to do it properly).  Now, at the age of 57, I'm giving it a second try.  This is exciting.

I installed them last night at 7:00 pm.  This morning, the traffic in and out of the smallest opening on the entrance reducer seems congested.  Looks like to me they need more room.  Should I open it up to the next larger size?

There are only a couple bees in the hive top feeder.  They should be hungry.  Anything I need to do to get them moving up there?  It is 1.5 to 1 sugar by volume with some Honey B Healthy in it.

Should I put some pollen substitute out for them?  If not now, when?

I'm surprised at the number of drones in the package.  Or maybe they are just flying around more. 

There were a couple of workers that died or are dying on the front porch.  Is this normal on first day?

Thanks for any advice.

Mike

[likes2grill]

Hey Mike welcome to the forum. First thing be sure to fill out your location so it will be easyer for those around you to give you the right answer for the weather your in.

"This morning, the traffic in and out of the smallest opening on the entrance reducer seems congested.  Looks like to me they need more room.  Should I open it up to the next larger size?"

Yes I would unless you have lots of cold weather/snow. This time of year here in Florida I don't use one at all.

"There were a couple of workers that died or are dying on the front porch.  Is this normal on first day?"

I see them hauling off dead bees all the time so don't worry unless its a lot of your hive at once.

"
There are only a couple bees in the hive top feeder.  They should be hungry.  Anything I need to do to get them moving up there?  It is 1.5 to 1 sugar by volume with some Honey B Healthy in it."

Once they have settled down a bit they will start building comb and start taking down the sugar syrup much fast. Ring now there is no where to store it.

[LocustHoney]

Congrats.

I am under the impression that anytime there is congestion in the entrance you need to open it up some more. And I think that the bees will move up to your feeder in time. I would be patient with that one. Not too sure on the pollen deal. I haven't feed my patties yet. There has been no need for me...yet. I have a few dead bees placed outside the entrance everyday. Not too many but just a few. I wouldn't worry about it. Good luck.

[MikeG]

Thanks for the info.

My location is SE Missouri, and it's now entered in the profile.

[bozbee]

Hey MikeG, new here myself. I live in Va and with the exception of the cold spell we had a week or 2 ago it has been 70's. I took my reducer out the the warm day and will watch the weather to see when it does get cold again. I will then reduce the entrance and only then. I've been feeding my 2 hives sugar water, lasts about 2 days per qt.

[MikeG]

Installing the package was so easy.  Too easy and too quick.  The fun just didn't last long enough.  Those bees were so gentle.  Not once did I have an angry bee even buzz at me.

I've been around the hive twice today.  When wearing my green shirt and jeans, I have attracted a threatening bee both times.  I went back, got into my bee suit (white), and it's like I'm not even there.  I had trouble getting the entrance reducer out (the paint seems to have stuck it to the hive), but the bees never got excited about me being there prying on the contraption.

These girls are a bunch of sweeties.  (pun intended)

[Mklangelo]

Mike G.

I noticed the dead bees around my entrance today also.  I looks like you installed your bees about an hour after I did so were seeing the same things.  I didn't notice allot of syrup gone after one day.  I introduced the entrance feeders today.

good luck!

[buzzbee]

Mike G,
If it's cold and the syrups cold,they may not want to take it.
We've had good luck with a quail feeder and put a couple supersaround it to cover it enough to put the cover over it.
You may want to look into feeding with a baggie. I'll  try to find a link to it.
   Found a link:
http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/academic/agriculture/entomology/beekeeping/bee-l/log9701c.txt
Just a short way down the page!

[MikeG]

Thanks to everyone for your comments.

Enlarging the opening seemed to make them much happier.

Mklangelo, good luck to you also with your bees.

I've got another package coming on May 5.  This is so much fun, I may just keep installing every two weeks!