New bee package

[susanbeesf]

I have just picked up a new bee package with queen.  Have sprayed with water, then sugar syrup after about an hour.  It's rainy today and will probably be rainy tomorrow.  What I had planned to do was to put them into a nuc, which I would then take up to our country place on Monday.  Now I am wondering if it might  be less stressful for the bees (and me!) if I simply take the package up to the country and install it directly into the hive?  Any danger in keeping the bees in their package until Monday afternoon?

[RayMarler]

If it was me, I'd install them now into the nuc.
Shake all the bees in the nuc.
Remove a side panel of screen off the cage if  needed.
Hang the queen cage in the nuc between frames.
Dump a half cup of white granulated sugar into the nuc, just over the frames against the back wall.
The sugar will do as feed since it's raining.
Take the nuc to remote yard and transfer frames into your hive as needed.
I feel leaving them caged is more stressful than boxing them into the nuc.

[susanbeesf]

Thanks for that suggestion.  I am still pondering it and I will definitely give them some sugar to tide them over until they can be properly hived.  If I put them in the nuc right now, I am afraid that the rain will destroy it.  I suppose I could devise some sort of cover, though.  Ok, I guess that's what I'll do.  Thanks again!

[JP]

How big is the package? 3lbs, 4?

Just curious as to why you are putting them into a nuc and not a medium or a deep?


...JP