Package Installation

My bees arrived this morning!! 

Promptly after eating breakfast (which I confess is rather a late affair for me, due in part to Lyme meds taken between coffee and breakfast requiring a 45 minute buffer time), I wiggled into that nearly too-tight nomex (Air Force surplus), tied my hat on, and slipped the veil over the top. Collecting my hive-tool and my bees, I headed for the south portion of the backyard.

Rather than following the included directions on how to install a package of bees into a hive, I followed Micheal Bush's method...which, after I read the directions post-installation, I found were nearly 180* to what I did.

To begin with, I removed the covering and with a little assistance, removed the syrup can. The queen cage was supposed to be attached, but it had fallen off into the shipping box...and someone else spotted it after it had been dumped into the nuc. (Yes, the whole family was standing around the whole time...but I was the only one with protective gear on.)

Daddy helped with this because I'm awful clumsy with my gloves on...

Next step required slamming the shipping container into the ground to knock the bees loose and then pour them into the hive; it took a few slams...and then I broke the box apart after a fashion to get the last of the bees out.

(That astronaut suit though...)

I got the queen cage out of the bottom of the hive and ended up removing the screen over the top and just releasing her straight into the hive. I get the impression from my reading that that is supposedly the most tricky way to release a queen, but it seemed to work just fine.

(As you can tell, someone else actually read the directions... :D)

Observing the queen and her attendants. There were three bees in with her--one of which was dead.

Releasing the queen.

Probably the trickiest part, for me, was putting the frames into the hive without smushing bees. I think I have discovered that you can gently smash a bee without doing it any harm...

Before putting the frames in...

They just look cool...

Using a chick water tray as a feeder wasn't the most brilliant idea that I ever dreamed up...but for now it'll have to do. The poor bees were getting totally covered in honey. Last time I looked they were still busy cleaning themselves and each other off--but they had the jar practically empty.

Per Mr. Bush's suggestion, I left the lid off for a bit while they flew around and got orientated. It was a little tricky getting it on when I did put it on because the bees were all over the rim. I think I eventually got it on without squishing any of them...the bee brush came in real handy for that!

Random observations: 

• I didn't get stung...though I think I spotted a bee stinging my glove.
• I think I can identify the queen next time I spot her.
• I saw at least two drones.
• It is an interesting sensation to have bees buzzing all over your gloves. I'm not kidding, I could feel the vibration of their wings through my gloves. 

I look forward to peering into the hive in a few days (Mr. Bush recommends letting them alone for 3-5 days before checking them) and seeing how they are coming along.

Thus begins my beekeeping adventure!

     Racheal