Installing Your New Hives

Installing a package of bees in a new hive is an exciting time, especially if you're thoroughly prepared.  Perform these installation tasks in the following order for a hassle-free, successful installation of your new honeybee colony.

Printer-friendly Page

	Installation task
	Step 1 - Take care of your packages of bees Honeybees are sent in wooden, screened, 2 to 5 pound packages, which contain approximately 6,000 to 15,000 bees.  Proper care must be taken to ensure the honeybees (and especially the queen) survive until you install them into their new hive.
	Step 2 - Installing the Bee Packages Installing a package of bees is relatively simple.  Following a standard procedure to ensure the queen is properly introduced and the workers are put into the hive will ensure a successful start for the colony in their new home.
	Step 3 - Medicate the hive Honeybees succumb to various microbial diseases and parasites, such as mites.  You must know how to proactively prevent disease in your new colonies by applying medications or treatments to a hive at the time or soon after the package is first installed.
	Step 4 - Feeding and watering Your new hives need to be fed immediately to encourage comb and brood production.  Packaged colonies normally require 10 to 12 weeks to reach their maximum population, and providing good sources of carbohydrates, proteins and clean water is critical to your hives' success later in the year.
	Step 5 - Revisit your hive After a week, you will need to open up your new beehive to see how the colony is doing and to perform some basic management.  This will be the first time you have the opportunity to inspect the frames for comb development and eggs.  You will also need to remove the empty queen cage and any burr or brace comb the bees may have built.

BeeCARE Learning Center

^{Copyright © 2002-2007 All Rights Reserved.}