Installing A Package of Bees

Congratulations! You are about to enter a very special relationship with one of the most important creatures on our planet, the honeybee. Since you have come this far, it’s likely you are aware that roughly 75% of our food requires the pollination that our special friends are able to do. By keeping bees, you are helping provide them a place to live while they perform this important task. The first step in caring for your bees will be to install a 3lb package of bees into their new home, their hive. Follow these step-by-step instructions to ensure a successful installation. 

Equipment Needed:

• Bee package (3 lbs of bees with a queen in a separate cage)

• Langstroth or Top Bar Hive. (1 bottom board, 1 deep brood box, 1 inner cover, 1 lid, 10 deep frames) 

• Hive tool

• Sugar syrup (1:1 ratio of sugar to water in a spray bottle)

• Protective gear (bee suit, gloves, and veil)

• Smoker and fuel (dry pine needles, dry grass, or clean burlap are great fuel)

• Entrance reducer

• Feeder (Boardman feeder, top feeder, or frame feeder)

THE BEST TIME TO INSTALL YOUR BEES

• The bees in a package are primarily young nurse bees that have no desire to be outside their hive. However, by install the bees in the late afternoon or early evening they are less likely to fly and have time to settle overnight.

Step-by-Step Installation Process

1. Prepare the Hive

• At least two or three days ahead of time, place the hive in a suitable location, ensuring it is level, stable and has good sun exposure.

• Have frames with foundation ready in the hive. Remove 6 frames and lean them against the outside wall of the hive leaving room for the bees to be added.

• If you’re using a frame feeder, install it against one wall inside the hive with 1:1 sugar syrup to support the bees as they establish the colony. NOTE; It may be easier to put the feeder in the hive empty, then fill it when it is in place. 

2. Prepare the Bees

• Although your bees should be calm, put on your protective gear (veil & gloves) to prevent stings.

• Lightly spray the bee package with sugar syrup to calm the bees and make them less likely to fly.

3. Remove the Queen Cage

• Open the TOP of the package carefully and remove the can of syrup. 

• Locate the queen cage inside. Her cage will be hanging next to where the can was. 

• Check that the queen is alive and healthy.

• Remove the cork from the queen cage, and carefully insert the candy plug into the hole. NOTE; When you remove the cork, be sure to cover the hole with your finger before you insert the candy plug. (If there is no candy plug, insert a small marshmallow to serve as one).

• Attach the metal hook on the queen cage to the top of a frame inside the hive with the candy plug facing down. NOTE; be sure the screen side of the queen cage is NOT against frame. 

• Place another frame adjacent to the frame with the queen cage on it, so her cage is “sandwiched” between two frames. 

4. Install the Bees

• Open the END of the “Bee Bus” and gently shake your bees into the open space between frames. 

• Some bees will remain in the package—set it near the hive entrance so they can crawl in. They will smell the queen’s pheromone and make their way into the hive. 

5. Close the Hive

• Lightly spray the remaining frames with 1:1 syrup and gently replace them taking care not to crush bees on the bottom board, replace the inner cover, and close the hive.

• Install an entrance reducer to help the bees defend their new home.

• Leave the feeder in place for at least the first month to provide essential nutrition.

6. Allow the Bees to Settle

• Avoid disturbing the hive for 3-5 days to allow the bees to adjust.

• Check the queen after a few days to ensure she has been released and is active.

• Refill the feeder as needed to support the bees while they build comb.

Final Tips & Notes

• Work calmly and smoothly to avoid agitating the bees.

• Always wear your protective gear until you are comfortable handling the bees.

• Monitor the hive for signs of healthy activity and queen acceptance.

• 1:1 Sugar syrup is typically, mixed by weight, but that’s not essential. To make a gallon, simply add 10.5 cups of warm water to 10.5 cups of sugar. The warm water will help in dissolving the sugar.

• Use your entrance reducer for the first month to help the bees have a smaller defensible space. 

Thank you for buying a package of bees from us! We love bees and we want to see you succeed with your new friends so don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or would like help with you bees. 

Doug & Debbie Stolhand, 

Master Beekeeper and Apiary Specialist, 

Woodland Creek Honey Farm,

2224 Covington Ct. NE, Olympia, WA 98516, 

(253) 381-0156