Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: StinkyMcCheese on April 24, 2005, 09:11:31 am
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Ok I need some of the experts advise. I am a new beginer and my first package arrived yesterday and we have snow on the ground and 32 degrees with a high of 40 today. I refilled the feeder can(which became very interesting when I knocked the queen cage off onto the bottom of the package) which was empty and fed some sugar syrup through the screen. So right now they seem to be well fed and doing well. My question are what is next.
1) How long can the bees remain in the package before in becomes a concern?
2) What should the temperature be before installing into the hive. Monday and Tuesday are forecasted in the low to mid 50s depending on what forecast you look at.
3) Any other things I should do or watch for while waiting for the weather. Right now I have them in the basement so it is cool but not cold like the garage.
4) Finally, if it is cooler at the time of installation is there anything to do or watch for to get them off to the best start.
Thanks in advance for the help
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Just make sure they have syrup to eat. The can runs out pretty fast. I usually refill the cans but you can also spray the syrup on the screen or even brush it on lightly with a soft paintbrush. Careful not to hurt their tongues. I feed them unitl they lose interest at least a couple of times a day until I install them. IF I don't just refil the cans, but refilling the cans means opening the package and you'll have to do that outside and knock the bees down and cover the hole with something while you fill the can. Unless you have spare cans from last year, like me. :)
Mine, lately have had a can of syrup with a piece of cloth held in a hole with a plastic ring. I pop the ring out and refill it. I used to get them with just holes poked in the can. These you can't easily refill.
If you feed them you can keep them for a week or more, but they will start building comb in the package and it will set them back and stress them out a bit. I put mine in the basement with the light off. If you listen to them you can tell with the light off they are much more calm than with the light on.
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my bee came in to what nice weather we are having now 6' of snow on the ground. :( i was puting sugar water on the screen and some old honey. they love the honey. some day the weather will warm up so we can put they out side :)
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If it’s sunny and over 50 degrees get them installed into a hive. I have installed honeybees in mid 40's and cloudy. And they do quiet well. Honeybees can take quiet a bit of cold weather as long as they can cluster together. They will fly from the hive to take a clensing flight when below freezing as long as it’s sunny