This is pretty common for package bees to leave their brand new hive only days after being installed. The main reason for this is because the bees are not accustomed to their new surroundings and they are not used to the smell of the other bees in the hive. Another reason could be that the queen bee is not accepted by the other bees in the hive and she is forced to leave. Whatever the reason, it is pretty common for package bees to leave their hive soon after being installed.
The blame probably lies with the over-exuberance that comes with the successful hatching of a new colony. As the old saying goes, "a watched pot never boils," and the same can be said of a beehive. Beekeepers who constantly check on their hives during the spring and summer months are more likely to see their colonies collapse than those who let their bees be.
It's always a risk when you get a new package of bees that they will take off and leave, but there are some things you can do to reduce that risk. Don't disturb the hive too much in the first few days after you get the bees, so they have time to settle in and get used to their new home.
Measure 1. Rub Beeswax On New Equipment
Bees are amazing creatures that have a very organized society. In order to convince a package of bees to stay in a new hive, you have to show them that the hive is a good place to live. You can do this by putting pollen and nectar in the hive, and making sure that the hive is clean and dry. Once the bees have been in the hive for a few days, they will start to build wax comb and lay eggs. At this point, they are usually convinced that the hive is a good place to live and will stay there permanently.
If you're having trouble convincing a particular package to stay put inside your new equipment, try rubbing beeswax over the inside of the box. It's not a foolproof solution, but it can help.
If you're looking for an easy way to apply beewax to your surface, you can simply take a block of wax and scrape it onto the surface. It works great and is much easier than melting the wax down and brushing it on.
Measure 2. Feed Sugar Syrup
Bees are attracted to sweet things, so sugar water is a great way to keep them happy. Make sure to always have plenty on hand, and never let it run out. Keeping bees fed and hydrated is important for their health and well-being.
One gallon of 1:1 syrup is equal to 4 quarts. When you are thinking in terms of how much syrup to feed your bees, it is easiest to think in gallons. Keep in mind that you will want to stop feeding your bees when they have enough comb and honey to survive the winter.
Bees are attracted to sugar syrup because it is a source of easy food. The sugar syrup helps the bees to get established quickly and gives them less time to consider leaving. Once the bees have eaten their fill of sugar syrup, they will be more likely to stay and build their hive.
Bees are constantly eating while they are awake and collecting pollen and nectar. They use nectar to make honey, which is their main source of food. colonies need to have enough stored honey to make it through the winter. If you are starting a new colony in new equipment, it is essential to feed them sugar syrup. The syrup will give them the extra energy they need to build their comb and store enough honey for winter.
Measure 3. Be Patient With The Queen
If you are patient and give the queen a few days to get out of the cage, the worker bees will get the hive ready for her. This is because the worker bees need to build up the wax comb around the queen cage before she can be released.
Once the queen starts laying, she can lay up to 2,000 eggs per day
Measure 4. Give Bees A Frame Of Open Brood
If you are worried that your new package of bees will leave, don't worry! There is a trick to make them stay. Give them a frame of comb that has eggs and larvae in it. This will make the bees think that they are needed to stay and take care of the comb.
They will build wax around them to protect them and care for them as if they were their own.Even though the bees in the package don't have a queen, they will take care of the larva and eggs. They won't abandon them but will build wax around them to protect them. They will care for them as if they were their own.
The drawn comb gives the queen an immediate place to lay eggs and is something that you could not normally buy. To get one, you would need a beekeeper friend who could provide you with a frame.
Measure 5. Give Bees Drawn Comb
When you give the bees a frame with drawn comb on it, you are giving them a head start on building their colony. The comb is already drawn and ready for the queen to lay her eggs in, which is a huge boost to the colony getting started.
The dark comb of a beehive is usually located at the center of the hive and is where the queen bee lays her eggs. This comb is important because it produces a pheromone that encourages other bees to stay in the hive and also provides the queen with an immediate place to start laying eggs.
