New hive - lemongrass?

[meashton]

I have two brand-new hives and two packages of Italians I just picked up yesterday. The weather's a bit chilly here in N. Colorado, so waiting until tomorrow to hive them.

I've read that packages can abscond from a new hive and am wondering if I should put a little lemongrass oil inside the hives before I put the bees in?

Thanks!

-Margaret

[Jim134]

I have two brand-new hives and two packages of Italians I just picked up yesterday. The weather's a bit chilly here in N. Colorado, so waiting until tomorrow to hive them.

I've read that packages can abscond from a new hive and am wondering if I should put a little lemongrass oil inside the hives before I put the bees in?

Thanks!

-Margaret

  If you use lemongrass oil all you need is a drop or 2 in my experience if you over do did the bees will abscond.



                  BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :) 

[meashton]

Hmmm... Maybe should leave well enough alone, then. Thx for the reply.

[tefer2]

I like them to be smelling the queen I've got locked up in the cage.
Lemongrass oil is to attract bees, not make them stay.  :idunno:

[2Sox]

I only use lemongrass oil for newly hived swarms.  Works well.  I agree that it's best to let them get accustomed to the queen in the cage.

[Michael Bush]

I would say the maximum is four drops.  One or two is fine.

[mikecva]

Welcome to beekeeping.   :cheer:

Feed, feed, feed.  The bees will get accustomed to their queen during the feeding. If the workers stop biting on the queen cage you can put a small hole in the sugar plug so the queen can eat her way out. Bees usually do not abscond during this period if you feed them 1:1 sugar water and a pollen patty. You will be feeding for about 4-5 weeks. (never feed when you put honey supers on or your honey might be well above 20% water.)  -Mike
 

[meashton]

Thanks, good advice. Hiving them today! Sugar water is at the ready. :)

I don't have any pollen patties. I guess I should have ordered some?  Is that something you get from Mann Lake or Dadant?

-Margaret

[mikecva]

Yes both have then. I put half a patty on for the first 3 weeks then a whold patty until I stop feeding.  -Mike

[Finski]

Thanks, good advice. Hiving them today! Sugar water is at the ready. :)

I don't have any pollen patties. I guess I should have ordered some?  Is that something you get from Mann Lake or Dadant?

-Margaret

don't you have flowers in Colorado?

.

[hardwood]

Pay very close attention to them if you use pollen patties. I don't know how your area is with SHB but I haven't used pollen patties in years due to them. As Finski suggests, if there are flowers blooming around you you don't need them anyway.

Scott

[Dave360]

don't you have flowers in Colorado?

LOL

[meashton]

LOL - the last of the snow is just melting, but there are a few bulb plants that survived that. Hopefully they'll be okay.

Both packages are hived!