Installing a package of bees can be a nerve racking experience for a novice beekeeper and one which I promise you is far easier if you are prepared and ready to go before the bees arrive. Read on to see what tools and preparations you need to make before installing a package of bees into a hive.
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Tools Needed Before Installing A Package Of Bees
There are some tools you most definitely need to have ready before you pick up your bees. Some of the tools are protective equipment whilst others are tools you didn’t necessarily think you needed for beekeeping.
Protective Gear
When you were younger were you ever super self conscious about how you looked when it came to safety gear or that hat and coat your parents made you wear in winter? Did you refuse to wear that fluorescent jacket or bicycle helmet because you thought you looked a total tool in it? Well beekeeping gear ain’t flattering, I look like Mrs. Marshmallow in mine but, I’ve not been stung when I’m wearing it.
I want to urge you if you are self conscious to please be safe when handling bees especially if you don’t know if you are allergic to stings. Invest in your protective gear and will help you in the long run. Being fully geared up like I do also helps if you are frightened of being stung and helps you make that mental shift to tackle the job at hand which is great if you help on bee removal or swarm catching.
Beekeeping suit
I freaking love my beekeeping suit. I feel I can take on anything in it and I now enjoy putting it on although me 20 years ago heading into my teens wouldn’t have been caught wearing this to a fancy dress or costume party.
I like an all in one suit, my husband likes just the jacket with the veil together. My husband put his baseball cap on me as I was heading out to film in the photo above and I’m glad he did and a great tip to share with you all if you have this type of hood and veil: a baseball cap underneath will help to keep the shielding mesh from pressing right up against your face meaning fewer chances of a stinger in the face. You can also get the round veil full beekeeping suit
For me, the full body beekeeping suit
Gloves
I have the gauntlets which go up to my elbow. Nothing drives me more crazy than sleeves which pull up from underneath gloves when I have a lab coat on at work. The gauntlets stop that problem happening and just like when I put my wellies on, there’s even less entry points for the bees to sting. I like the goatskin hide or leather gloves
Hive Tool
Have your hive tool
You can see the hive tool and beekeeping gear in this video I made when feeding my hive of Italian bees last year:
Bench or Table
A bench, small table or stand comes in really, really handy to place jars of feed on, lids, parts of the hive, tools and so much more without having to bend down to the ground to pick things up. If you have top bar hives like I do, then the bench can be super useful to place the stragglers in the bee package box on and direct them closer to the hive entrance.
Bee Food
Most beekeepers advise to prepare a simple syrup to feed your bees to help get them started in their new home. You can use honey or prepare a 1:1 sugar to water syrup. I like to use Honey B Healthy
Small Marshmallows
Photo Credit: Rebecca Freeman on Unsplash
Yes you did read that right.
You will need a small marshmallow to plug the Queen’s cage if it is plugged with cork. The queen is new and usually from a different colony than the workers in the bee package. These workers need time to accept this new queen which takes about the same amount of time as it takes for the workers to eat the marshmallow plug.
When you get your package of bees you will need to remove the cork plug and quickly put marshmallow in the hole before the queen makes a dash for it.
Related Post: Free Bees: How to Build a Swarm Trap
Spray Bottle
A clean new spray bottle that can mist is going to be an asset when installing a package of bees. Fill it with the sugar syrup solution and spritz the bees in the package as you start to install them. You don’t use a smoker when installing bees as they will disperse, you want them to stay together and set up shop in the nice hive you have ready.
Beekeeping Medikit
I know a lot of new beekeepers are afraid of being stung. Have a medikit handy just in case and a means of contacting the emergency services just in case. I carry an EpiPen in the leg pocket of my beekeeping suit, just in case.
My at hand medical kit contains:
- Antihistamines
- OTC Pain Relief
- Sting Ointment
- Another EpiPen
- Cell Phone
Preparation Needed Before Installing A Package Of Bees
Now you know the tools you need before installing a package of bees but what about the prep? Well my friend, there are a couple of things:
- If you haven’t got some of the tools above you should order them or visit farm supply stores or a beekeeping store to get the gear you need.
- You will need to do a bit of research to decide on what method you want to install your bees. Shake or not to shake? that is the question. Luckily there are lots of install videos on YouTube and you can ask a fellow beek (beekeeper) for advice.
- Join some beekeeping associations or Facebook groups. Try searching for groups in your area, there’s bound to be a couple. If you are local to Utah Deseret Hive Supply in Ogden offers classes and beekeeping supplies.
- Make up your feed: you can use honey or prepare a 1:1 sugar to water syrup.
- When you pick up your bees, check what the policy is for dead queens and replacement. If your queen is dead in the cage, you will need to provide a queen for your workers quickly, being part of a local beekeeping community can be a great place to ask for help if this does happen to you.
Prep The Hive
Get your hive set up before the bees arrive but don’t add anything to the feeder until you install the package of bees. You don’t want to attract other visitors like wasps or hornets to your hive before your colony can get moved in.
Paint beeswax on the foundation if you can to help your workers get started on building comb.
Taking the time to prepare the hive and gather your tools will help to put your mind at ease which will make the process for installing a package of bees much more quicker and smoother for you and hopefully the bees! Don’t underestimate the power of a practice run; as daft as it may sound, putting on your beekeeping suit, gloves, veil and practicing opening up the hive, how to handle the parts with your gloves on or even going as far as lighting the smoker and keeping it lit are all going to help you keep calm whilst handling the bees in the future as you gain experience.
Spraying the bees with a simple sugar syrup will help calm them during the installation, they will be hungry and eating the sugary solution and this will help to keep them calmer. Watch a few videos on how to install and what to look for during the installation and finally, have fun doing this! Being a bee guardian is incredibly rewarding and a fascinating hobby.
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