Introducing a package of bees requires a precise sequence of calming, shaking, and positioning to ensure the colony accepts its new home and its queen. You must transfer the loose worker bees into the hive body while keeping the queen confined in her cage for a gradual, pheromone-based release.
Core Takeaway The success of a package installation hinges on the "slow release" of the queen. By requiring the workers to chew through a candy plug over several days, the hive acclimates to her pheromones, preventing rejection and ensuring she is accepted as the colony's reproductive center.
Preparing the Hive Environment
Essential Hardware and Gear
Before opening the package, ensure your apiary is set up with the necessary hardware. You will need a single deep hive body with frames (or top bars), a bottom board, and a hive stand.
You must also have an entrance reducer installed to help the small colony defend the hive. Wear your bee suit and gloves, and have a smoker, hive tool, and spray bottle ready.
Creating Space for the Bees
You cannot dump bees into a hive full of frames. Remove 5 to 6 frames (or top bars) to create a large central void.
If you are using a follower board, install it now to limit the colony's space. This confines the bees to about 10 bars or frames, helping them conserve heat and resources.
Installing the Queen
Positioning the Queen Cage
It is best to work with the queen first. Remove her cage from the package and check that she is alive.
Using a tack or clip, attach the queen cage to the center of a frame or top bar. This should be positioned roughly 3 to 4 bars away from the entrance.
The Candy Release Method
Most queen cages are plugged with a "candy cork." You must remove the physical cork or cover on the candy end so the bees can access the sugar.
Do not release the queen immediately. Suspend the cage in the hive with the candy exposed. The worker bees will eat through this candy over a few days, freeing her automatically.
Why Delay Matters
The delay caused by the candy plug is technical, not accidental. While the workers eat the candy, the queen emits pheromones.
This scent permeates the hive, signaling to the workers that she is their leader. Immediate release often leads to the colony attacking or "balling" the queen because they do not yet recognize her scent.
Transferring the Colony
Calming the Bees
Use your smoker to lightly puff the package bees. This disrupts their alarm pheromones and makes them more docile during the transfer.
Shaking the Bees
Open the package cage and physically shake or pour the bees into the empty space you created in the hive box.
If you are using a nucleus box or a similar container to transfer loose bees, knocking them into a corner first can help you pour them more cleanly.
Closing the Hive
Once the bees are in, gently replace the frames or top bars you removed earlier. Be careful not to crush bees during this process. Place the cover on the hive immediately to secure the colony.
Critical Post-Installation Care
Jumpstarting Comb Building
A new package has no drawn comb to store honey or eggs. You must provide continuous feeding.
Use a feeder with a 1:1 sugar water solution. This simulates a nectar flow, stimulating the bees' wax glands and allowing them to draw out the comb necessary for the queen to begin laying.
Understanding the Trade-offs
The Risk of Manual Release
You may be tempted to peel back the screen or unplug the cage to let the queen out immediately. Avoid this.
Without the multi-day acclimatization period provided by the candy plug, the colony is highly likely to reject the queen. This results in the death of the queen and the potential failure of the package.
The Consequence of Underfeeding
Failing to provide sugar syrup is a common error. Without artificial feed, a package colony may starve or fail to build wax fast enough.
If there is no comb ready when the queen is released, she cannot lay eggs, setting the colony's growth back by weeks.
Making the Right Choice for Your Goal
Successful beekeeping requires adhering to biological timelines rather than rushing the process.
- If your primary focus is queen acceptance: Do not manually release her; remove the cork on the candy end and allow the workers to release her over 2-3 days.
- If your primary focus is rapid colony establishment: Ensure the feeder is constantly full of 1:1 syrup to fuel immediate wax production.
Trust the pheromone process; let the bees work through the candy to ensure a stable, long-term hierarchy.
Summary Table:
| Step | Action Item | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation | Hive Setup | Remove 5-6 frames/bars to create space; use entrance reducers. |
| Queen Placement | Candy Release | Suspend cage; remove candy cork for gradual 2-3 day pheromone release. |
| Installation | Transfer Bees | Smoke package lightly; shake worker bees into the central void. |
| Post-Care | Feeding | Provide 1:1 sugar syrup to stimulate wax production and comb building. |
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