Package bees: How long can they wait?

[Pond Creek Farm]

I had a message on our answering machine when I got home from work telling me that my bees from Walter Kelly had arrived, but that I must sign for them because they were insured. (Otherwise they would have left them on my porch).  I will call and pick them up personally first thing tomorrow and hive them as soon as the temperature breaks 50 (I hope this is the right point).  I am curious if I need to take any special measures since they were in the box this long.  I am hiving them on fully drawn comb with several frames of pollen and honey.  I will also add baggie feeders of 1:1 on top of the bars.  Will this be enough?

[Michael Bush]

Make sure they don't go hungry until you hive them.  A baggie feeder should do.

[Bee-Bop]

Michael,
How the heck would you get a baggie feeder in the cage with out a complete mess !
Would not spraying the cage with sugar water be quicker and easier if the syrup can was empty ?

My simple mind just wandering.

Bee-Bop

[dpence]

I have had packages that arrived on a less than desirable day to install.  I kept them in the basement a couple days, spraying the screen with sugar water periodically and they did fine.  Certainly giving them drawn comb, pollen and honey frames along with a baggie when you install will give them a good start.  My packages from Walter T. Kelley are do to arrive the 22nd.  Good luck.

David

[Michael Bush]

>>I am hiving them on fully drawn comb with several frames of pollen and honey.  I will also add baggie feeders of 1:1 on top of the bars.
>How the heck would you get a baggie feeder in the cage with out a complete mess !

You wouldn't.  He was talking about putting on the top bars.

[Bee-Bop]

Michael;
Sorry I misunderstood Your instructions;

> Make sure they don't go hungry till you hive them. a baggie feeder will do.

Just sounded to me as thought they had not been hived yet !

Sorry didn't have my hearing aids in.

Bee-Bop

[Pond Creek Farm]

They've not been hived yet;  they are in my garage.  It did not get above 48 today and the wind was fierce.  It should be in the high 50's to 60' tomorrow.   I am spraying the packages with 1:1 as I do not know the status of their feeder can.  They were shipped Saturday, and it will be Wednesday before they are hived.  I will hive them on honey and pollen and place the baggie as Michael Busch discussed.  I ahve some feeders inbound and will replace the baggies with these on arrival.  I am most concerned when the bees are in the box.  I know I can feed them out in the hive.  I am glad to hear that the spray is a good idea and that a baggie will enusre their status when hived. 

[Michael Bush]

Sorry.  Two questions.  Two answers.

>>I am curious if I need to take any special measures since they were in the box this long.
>Make sure they don't go hungry till you hive them.

>>I am hiving them on fully drawn comb with several frames of pollen and honey.  I will also add baggie feeders of 1:1 on top of the bars.  Will this be enough?
>A baggie feeder will do.