Chapter 4Getting started

PPT by Richard Hebert, Hebert Honey Farm

Chapter topicsApiary Locations Four ways to get started Working a colonyInstalling package beesInstalling swarms Installing nucleus coloniesBuying established colonies

Apiary Location

• Be mindful of neighbors and yourself• Out of the way of people, pets, and livestock• Avoid low/wet areas• Direct sun to mostly sunny• Wind break • Convenient access• Comfortable height• Grass and weed control• Nearby water

Working the Colony

• The Smoker Lighting the smoker Fuel sources Precautions

Four ways to Start

Swarm PackageNucleus colonyEstablished colony

Package Bees2/3 pounds of bees plus the queen by mail100$+/- plus shippingAvailable March/ MayCan be shipped almost anywhereFairly available-Package is slow to take off (21 day)

Be Prepared for the bees: have equipment and hive ready Hive needs to be painted and setup Veil and tools Feeder and sugar syrup Water sprayer Keep them cool and shaded

Install Procedure

• Step 1. Start out by removing four to five frames from one side• Step 2. Remove the Card Board cover from the shipping

package with either a hive tool or knife (the cardboard cover is there to hold in the can of sugar syrup, not to keep the Bees in place, Bees will not come out when the card board cover is removed)

• Step 3. Remove the can of Syrup from the Package.• Step 4. Remove the Queen Cage from the package (the Queen

cage is shipped with either a strip of aluminum or wire attached to it so that it can be attached to a frame within the hive. DO NOT remove the wire or strip)

Step 5. Place the package directly in the hive body Bees and all in the space where the frames were removed fromStep 6. Remove the Cork from the Candy end of the Queen Cage and using a nail make a hole through the candy which will aid the workers both inside the Queen cage and outside eat through the candy to release the Queen.Step 7. Using a Thumb Tack, secure the Queen Cage to the frame directly next to the shipping package in the center of the 6th and 7th frames making sure that the screen face is where the bees can feed the queen. Step 8. Replace Inner Cover and TopStep 9. Fill Feeder Jar with remaining sugar syrup that was shipped with the Bees. Top Off Sugar Water if needed and place Feeder Jar in Feeder

• One day after installing the package remove the top of the hive and remove the Shipping Cage from the Hive and replace the frames.

• Do not disturb the Queen Cage. • Shake out any remaining Bees left in the package on the ground in front

of the hive. • Leave Bees alone for at least 3 more days.• On the 5th day after installation check to make sure the Queen has been

released.• If the Queen has not been released check to see that the Bees are

accepting the Queen. • This can be done by observing how the Bees are acting on the outside of

the Queen Cage (see picture below) for aggressive behavior such as biting at the cage.

• If the Queen has not been released check to see that the Bees are accepting the Queen.

• This can be done by observing how the Bees are acting on the outside of the Queen Cage (see picture below) for aggressive behavior such as biting at the cage.

• Aggressive behavior is easy to see as the Bees will seem agitated and will move about quickly on the Queen Cage.

• Bees that are calm such as the ones in the picture below have accepted their new Queen.

• At this time the Queen can be released from her cage by removing the cork from the end opposite the candy.

• Replace the Queen Cage and let the Queen come out on her own, DO NOT try to remover her yourself.

• If the Queen has been released remove the Queen Cage and close the hive Covers.

3 Week Check• There should be a few frames of seal brood. • You may see young bees emerging from their cells, if so close up the colony and

continue feeding sugar syrup. • If brood quantity is small or irregular, this indicates a bad queen that must be replaced.

SwamsInstalling Swarms• Personal Safety• Tools needed:• ladder• bee brush• pruning shears• 5 gal. bucket with • screen lid or nuc

box

• Just rake them into a hive• Most swarms readily accept a new home• Swarming occurs March-June (April being the

peak month)

Installing nucleus colonies

Buying established colonies

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