As usual, all of this information is from the class and/or reading I've done ... and now it's time to talk about hiving the bees! This is what it's called when you receive your package of bees and move them into your hive, their new home. First, it's really important to have the hive built well in advance of getting your bees, especially if you plan to paint or stain it. It will take a good month for any chemicals, smells, etc that might be harmful - or even fatal - to your bees to dissipate, so getting it built and ready for the bees early is the best thing.
The day the bees arrive, set them aside in a cool, shady spot until late afternoon. Part of the reason to do this is because it's cooler, so the bees are calmer, but also bees are less likely to decide they hate your hive and leave if it's about to be dark. Bees apparently do very little flying at night. They also need a little more time to get used to their new queen. They will have been hanging out with her for only a few hours to a day or so, so more adjustment time is better. When you put them aside, and several more times during the day, check the sugar can to be sure there is still enough in there to keep feeding the bees. If you want, you can go ahead and mix up some sugar water (two cups of water to one pound of pure white sugar) and put it in a spray bottle. Periodically throughout the day lightly spray the screen on the outside of the package with the sugar water. The bees will lick it off. When they do that they get all fat and happy, which makes them calm.
Before you start, remove the middle-most frames from your hive to make room to put the bees in. When it's time to put them in, pick up the package, and give it a good shake downward to get most of the bees to the bottom of the package. Don't bang it on anything, that'll upset the bees. Remove the sugar can, gently reach in and remove the queen cage, then cover the hole with something. Have a mini marshmallow ready and remove the cork closing the queen cage. Cover the hole with your finger (you don't want her to escape!) until you have time to shove the mini marshmallow in it. Set her aside, being sure she can get plenty of air. Get the package and gently turn it upside down so that the hole is right over the gap in the hive. Then gently shake it around to get the bees out and into the hive. Most of them should come out, but if there are some left just lay the opening of the package next to the hive entrance and they should come out and into the hive on their own. Very slowly and gently (to avoid crushing any bees) replace the frames, leaving one out if necessary so there's still a space in the middle. Hang the queen, still in her cage, in this space. Make sure the screen is facing such that the queen won't suffocate. Then slowly and gently (so as to not crush any bees) close up the hive. As long as it's not freezing outside, provide sugar water in whatever manner your hive allows for so they have plenty to eat and can start making honeycomb. Over the next few days the bees will get more used to their new home, and their new queen. During this time they will eat through the marshmallow to release the queen. You'll want to leave them alone for a few days to allow this to happen, but check in about three to be sure she's out. They can apparently feed and groom her through the cage, but she needs to be out to start laying eggs in the comb the bees have been building.
Our bees are coming at the end of April, but there will be limited flowers at that time, so we'll give them sugar water for the first few weeks. That way they'll have made lots of nice comb and a good number of eggs will have hatched by the time the bees start going out and foraging for pollen. Then they'll start making honey and will be able to feed themselves. Yay for honey!
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