Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: asciibaron on April 04, 2008, 04:24:55 pm
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I got the call on Tuesday that my package was available for pickup on Wednesday or Thursday. I painted the hive on Wednesday and picked the bees up last night. When I got home, I put the package in the laundry room (keep the cat away) and mixed up my sugar solution. After work this evening I'll install the package and cross my fingers that the weather doesn't conspire against me - cold and rainy is in the forecast for the next few days.
I plan on checking the hive and giving them another gallon of sugar water next Saturday.
Wish me luck!
-Steve :mrgreen:
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Good luck.
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U will bee okay just remember wear that veil!!!!!!!!
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well, everything was going great until... I got 2 stings on my right hand - first knuckle on my middle finger and the webbing between the middle and ring fingers. got stung because i had a very hard time getting the can out - decided to pull the queen out, inspected her and made a hole with a stick in the candy, then put her between 2 frames.
the bees were coming out of the opening left from the queen cage and try as I might, I simply could not get enough leverage on the can. I finally was able to get my fingers around the rim while prying with the hive tool and then it happened - I dropped the can a inch or so back into the package - this jolt sent the bees into a frenzy. i backed away as the bees started to slam into me. I looked down at my right hand and saw two bees dragging their entrails and quickly moved to scrap the stingers off.
I retreated a few feet to regain my composure and then moved back in to remove the can. this time I was able to get the can released and simply dumped what i could out of the package into the hive. then I put the package with the hole facing down on top of the frames, spaced another frame out and then put the feeding pail in. next I put on a deep hive body, then the inner cover and then the outer cover with the top notch closed off.
I go back in tomorrow and remove the package crate and add the missing frames. I could have done it better had I known how the queen cage was setup in the crate. next bees I get will be from a local nuc supplier - getting the can out was my downfall.
-Steve :mrgreen:
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Steve,
This is something that we all went through the first time we hived a package. I guess I can only speak for myself as I had the same problems. They are resilient little buggers though and should do fine.
DennisB
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yep. I dropped the queen cage to the bottom of the hive during my first package...reaching through a pile of angry off, shaken out bees to get the cage wasn't the most pleasant experience for the girls. Remember, half of these bees will be dead in 3 weeks anyway, so losing a dozen at hiving doesn't have a very big impact. Plus, it teaches you about what to do in the future. Once you figured out how to get the syrup out, you'll be able to do it that way all the time, the first time. :)
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I had a similar experience with my first package. I just could not get the syrup can out. Fortunately my son was standing by (not too close!) watching me. I sent him for a pair of needle nose pliers. They worked great at getting the can out. Now the pliers stay in my work box. Very useful!
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my son was watching and then vanished when the wooden cover came off. i'll be assembling a tool bag for sure - my hand is doing ok - hurts to make a fist, but the swelling is not bad.
getting stung wasn't that bad, I was more bothered by the bees dive bombing me. Several of them were hard enough for me to take notice. I wasn't really prepared for how violent such a small creature can be.
The hive entrance was busy an hour after I installed them - I saw several bees out on orientation flights - I'm sure they are going to love my cherry and peach trees when they blossom in the next few weeks.
-Steve
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Until we began keeping bees I had never experienced the head butting, either. That can is always a problem, I think, especially the first time. Hiving your first package is always an adventure!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a4a-Tw-qFI
...JP
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Don't do what I did last spring. Make sure your gear is on correctly. I got stung 19 times...
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This is why many of us spray sugar syrup on the outside of the package and get the bees a little sticky before installing. It calms them down pretty quickly as they are working to clean themselves
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a4a-Tw-qFI
i thought about using this method, but the package crate is of a different design - there is no way i was getting the screen off without causing a massive ruckus.
i was able to go back in the hive today and remove the crate, put in the remaining frames, and adjust the feeder pail. next batch of feed will be done using the ziploc bag method. we did that today at the bee class and it seemed very easy.
the one neighbor came over today and see was in awe of the bees - she thinks it's cool. now i'm waiting for the other neighbor to say something ;)
-Steve
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Don't do what I did last spring. Make sure your gear is on correctly. I got stung 19 times...
That is a lot! I just hived my first package this evening and didn't get stung and I only had a veil on and a long sleeved t-shirt and velcro bands around my jeans. I only used my gloves to put the frames back in before I buttoned it up.
I used the sugar water spray and it definitely calmed them down and I also waited until around 6:30 pm this evening to do it. What fun to sit back and watch the bees march into their new home.
And thanks Kimbrell for the suggestion on the needle nose pliers!!!! I read it last night and had them handy today and I don't think I would have gotten that syrup can out as easily w/o them.
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I had the same problem with my two packages saturday, couldnt get a good hold on the can rim, ended up using an old strong speaker magnet, worked great!
I also dropped a queen cage in the hive amongst a lot of bees, talk about moving slowly and carefully! I only got stung twice.
might as well face it, If you want to keep bees, you will get stung sometimes.
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Jimmy, those old speakers work wonder for metal, off topic here I know, but I use one attached to a rope for getting nails out of places where wood has been burned that had nails in it, amazing. Yes, I know, off topic, me bad. Have a wonderful and beautifulest day, Cindi
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I also had a package I thought the screen was on to good. So I banged it once on its side and cut the screen with a utility knife. Plced open package in the super I was putting on for feed. Left it for 20 minutes came back all had moved down into frames with queen.
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... ended up using an old strong speaker magnet, worked great!
Genius!!! I never thought of using a magnet before! I love it! Last year I just put a large screw through the bottom of the can and used that as a handle, but it made a terrible mess. Looks like I'm adding a old speaker to my cluster of bee tools. lol
Sean Kelly
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I never had a problem getting the can or the queen out, but after I hived my first package I realized that there was a bee in my pants. Luckily she didn't sting me. That would have sucked.
I have 5 more packages coming at the end of the month. I can't wait.
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The magnets a GREAT idea!!
I've been lucky and havent had trouble getting the can out or dropping the queen box in...So far...
I do the same as you Cindi!..I use a magnet to pick up nails from my burn piles too!
Also,....I havent torn the screen front off any packages..Just opened the top....I still have my first 2 empty packages I'm keeping for souvenirs(actually 3 now)..My wife asked me why I was saving them..So, Real quick like, I came up with a great idea as she wanted an answer......So,....I'm gonna make LAMPS out of them!! The bulb will go thru the top where the can hole is! I think I'll make tiny lamps out of my queen cages too!
your friend,
john