package transporting

[JP]

Hey Ken, isn't the kid supposed to be wearing the protection? He must be the brave one here, 'eh? lol

Sincerely, JP

[buzzbee]

he installed a couple packages before.They are generally calm installing into hive from packages as long as their sugar can is not empty.They were also misted with sugar solution prior to installing.
Taht,and he had a friend to watch that was a little nervous so Just let him wear the suit to  watch.

[NWIN Beekeeper]

Not mentioned yet, but packages of bees must be kept out of direct sunlight. 

Sound goofy because bees are in sunlight all day long as a foragers when in a hive, but in a package the dynamics change entirely. When in a package, the dark bulk of bees attract a lot of solar gain (its what keeps them warm and their metabolism quick when they are flying solo). It makes them easy to over heat in cramp quarters like a mailing container.

Another aspect is humidity.
Bee movement consume a lot of energy, and a by-product of that activity is water moisture.
Bees breathe through their body wall through tiny holes.
If these holes are blocked by moisture, its essentially drowning.
If you spray your bees with water or syrup, or if they must be put in a confined area, be sure there is enough air circulation to remove excess moisture. 
I'd also omit spraying the bees if the weather is the least be cold (in transit or at installation (if its cold enough don't worry, the bees won't fly much anyhow)).

My sadist losses have been from cut-outs that took too long and too many bees in too small a box have become too wet from respiration and have cooked and drowned.  These were unavoidable situations where once started had to be completed for the sake of human safety.  Those tragic events now govern how many and how long I box any bees to assure that I act humane.  It also makes one plan to minimize what could be the worse case scenario for each bee removal. 

[Kathyp]

on the floor behind my seat in the car.  when i pick up my packages, they have 100's of of them in the warehouse.  i had a couple of stragglers on my boxes, but they stayed on the packages and i didn't even know they were there until i got home.  found them before i put my bare hands on them!!  :-)

[annette]

I had the temperature perfect for them, no sun on them and only sprayed them once after a 1 hr drive.

Every detail thought of for the little girls.

My installation was a nightmare though. That's another story.

annette

[randydrivesabus]

I guess they are transferred to the distributor in an enclosed trailer....and the driver couldn't care less about them and most if not all if them make it. so maybe the concern about how to transport them is unfounded.

[Jerrymac]

My sadist losses have been from cut-outs that took too long and too many bees in too small a box have become too wet from respiration and have cooked and drowned.  These were unavoidable situations where once started had to be completed for the sake of human safety.  Those tragic events now govern how many and how long I box any bees to assure that I act humane.  It also makes one plan to minimize what could be the worse case scenario for each bee removal. 

I have made special hive components for doing cut outs. I place them into a hive body tying any brood comb into frames. This hive body sits on a screened bottom board that allows circulation under it. Then there is a top cover that is screened yet protects from sun and/or rain if needed. When I get them home I can open the bottom board in order to work as normal or I can just sit the hive onto another bottom so I have this one for another removal. Then I can just trade the top for what I normally use. All the trading could be done on the next inspection of the hive. This way I don't  have to disturb/stress them by dumping them into another box after ripping them from their home.

[qa33010]

    Back of the van.  Kids keep watch on those that find a hole and try to tempt them to their finger.  All they want is to get out of the van or try to get back in the package.

[Davepeg]

Keep them cool...we keep the A/C on max in the back of our small SUV.

[Angi_H]

oThe only reasion I said I would have a spray bottle of sugar water was because they consider it a local pick up si they said they might or might not have a sugar can in them. But I have over a 5 hr drive with them in April. I sure wish I could get them earlier though. This sucks.

ANgi

[Cindi]

Oh Angi, just wait, April is just around the corner.  I know it is a long time to wait.  But that is when the weather is really bee friendly.  You have much earlier warm weather than we do, no doubt about that.  But just think.  By the time April comes around, and you have received so much information here from your forum friends, that you will be able to keep you bees even better.  You will have so much information that you have gleaned here.  It will make your keeping bees so much easier and better.  Just keep listening and learning.

By the way, I have been neglectful about getting your propolis ready.  But I have the honey room downstairs with my frames for crushing and straining in to get ready for the crush and strain.  I will be gathering the sticky propolis off them this week and by after the weekend I will be able to send you a big glob through the mail.  Be patient, I have not forgotten about you, just been rather lazy, being caught up in so much stuff with all the kids and the holiday vacation.  They have been off school now for over 2 weeks and are all going back today, yea!!!!!  Happiness to get my routines back in order.  I am a routine-oriented person and so many of these young darlings needing so much attention, it has been busy than blazes.  Have a wonderful, great day, your bees will come and then you will be in a little bit of heaven that you have only dreamed about  ;) :) :) :)  Cindi

[Gail Di Matteo]

I brought home nucs and I had about a 3 hour drive. I put them in my trunk, which was advised against. I had picked up the nucs from a beek club meeting, and all the seasoned beeks said I had nothing to worry about, that the bees in the nuc were all nurse bees; also it was not a big enough 'colony' for them to be aggressive. I stopped at rest area about half way home, to open the trunk and make sure they weren't baking. They did fine; I wasn't even stung installing them.

Next time, they are going in the car with me.

Gail

[Michael Bush]

>i had a couple of stragglers on my boxes

I've never had less than dozens of stragglers on each box...