I hung my queen cage in between the frames with a bamboo stick then I placed my bee-bus in front of the hive with the big hole facing the hive entrance and they just marched right in NO SHAKE, NO SPRAYING SUGAR WATER, NO SMOKE, NO PLACING THE BEE-BUS INSIDE THE HIVE. truly stress free method. great video thank you for not smoking or sprying the bees with sugar water is totally unnecessary
I don't shake but I do invert the package above the queen on a full brood chamber covered by an empty. box. the bees have always left the package, without fail.
Thank you soooo much. I'm a new bee keeper this year and it's bad enough I have to listen to those self-sanctimonious individuals describing how they found a new method to install bees. One even said that it is no coincidence that the package size is exactly the size of five removed frames, so even package manufacturers were promoting the "no shake" method. Between hive beetles, nozema, American and European foul brood and varroa mites I don't need to listen to some made up "shaken bee" syndrome to have to deal with. Thanks for once and for all putting this to rest.
Best passive release I have found is to put an empty hive body on top of the box with frames. Remove the queen cage and remove the cork. Lay it on top of the frames then lay the package on top laying sideways with the opening facing the center. Gently remove the board and and place the intercover and telescoping cover. Did this yesterday on a windy day with temps in the low 50's. Just went in 24 hrs later to remove the empty package along with any dead bee's inside. Bees were well clustered all around the queen and working to get her out. Only maybe 20 live bees in the package box. As we moved the box away from the hive they all flew away and back to their hive.
hey dave, with that type of cage that snaps together I had trouble getting them out so I took a flat head screw driver at the attaching corners and opened the cage up completely and brushed them out safely. so far so good. "go bee team"
I find it easier that a wooden cage that I used for years. By the way, an easier way to shake them out is to look at one of the ends. The ends have two snaps that hinge open. Try that next time.
I do the no-shake method. I find that putting the package in the bottom and having a box of frames above helps draw them out. After a few hours I take the package out and lean it against the hive as long, but only if most have left the package.
I'm in Ca and made 40 splits march 7th. I almost lost them due to cold weather but got very lucky. I just always shake them in and be done with the hassle. Maybe for someone that has two colonies that method will work but not 100 plus
wish I took video of mine, I installed this year, I installed 2 packages and left all the frames in, took the queen cage put it right on top of the frames, and just dumped some bees out over queen then laid the package on its side with opening facing the queen and the next day I bet there wasn't 25 bees in each package, one queen was released and the other took a little longer, but a week later had eggs larvae, and now I got capped brood, had to add a box of frame just 2 weeks in
Glad it went well, but for everyone else, remember what works well for one beekeeper may not for another. Alot depends on the temperature. The safest and best way to install a package is to shake them out and feed from the top.
oh I know, next time it may not work and I did feed them also, I think it all helped pull them out and with box on its side facing the queen they kind of had the opening to go out they didn't have to climb up.
I'm a new bee keeper. I'm enjoying learning all these methods of installing bees. I'll be installing my first two packages tomorrow (sunday). I've had some beekeepers tell me to shake them in, and then I've beekeepers from MannLake Bee supply suggesting leaving the cage on it's side as well. I have a question: My thought is to leave the cage open on it's side facing the placed queen as well. The cage laying across the frames and then an empty box over them. How would you suggest I place the frame feeder?
Did this method once. It was uhhhh, 1978 I think. Was 17 and afraid to shake them and they built combs in the package. Never again. Just dump them in and set what's left leaning against the hive bottom. They'll walk in if you put the queen in the hive. One of your students tried to convince me to do it without shaking bees. Nuh uh. Could not do it that way again. NO
Two differences I saw between the way you did it and the way the more successful introductions did it: 1. They had the wood frame packages instead of the plastic ones, which probably did not matter, except they had a thin piece of wood that covered the opening once they took the feeder and queen out, put the cover back on so no bees lost to flying in the air. 2. They had all the frames in their hive box, put an inner cover on and inverted the wood frame package on the inner cover so that the bees walked down into their box. The inversion was done while holding the thin piece of wood in place, then got it close to the inner cover, whipped off the thin piece of wood and put the package in place. They then put a second deep hive body around the box and put the lid on top. Otherwise the process was the same. Don't know if it would be quite as successful with the plastic packages - due to fit, lack of a cover for the opening. The next day, removal of the package (wood or plastic) and the addition of sugar water would be a huge help. So cold there! Brrr.
Thanks so much for posting David. I love watching you work. I do have a question... Do you have attendants in the queen cage with the queen? I have always been told that if you hang a queen cage, to be sure to leave the candy plug facing up. If it is facing down and the attendants die, their dead body could cover the exit, preventing the queen from escaping the cage. Wondering about your thoughts on this, since you are The Man!!! Again, thanks for your efforts. By the way...I wish you guys were putting out those podcasts. I loved listening to ya'll while I put equipment together, or drove down the highway.
Thanks Christopher! We are hoping to start up our podcasts soon. We do not place attendants in queen cages in packages. We do, of course, when we ship bees. The plastic queen cages provide an easy way for queens to be fed in when used in packages without attendants. Regarding queen cage up so dead attendants can fall away from hole...never worry about bees moving dead bees out of the way. Makes no difference to me.
I tried this procedure. unfortunately I also had an Rogue Queen.and she swarmed with half of my package. she didnt leave the package box at first and in three days of rain they built comb and had brood. couldnt tell till i eventually shook them but it was too late and she swarmed.
I just did this on Saturday here in Iowa. I checked on them yesterday (Tuesday). They are all clustered on the queen cage so I don't think they have released her yet. (Bee Team 6)
I looked at some bees I had recently and they were so sold they're acting dead. Interesting to see another cold hive opened up for the sake of science.
Since this video is about package's, I have a question from a 3rd year beekeeper. I am in south central Michigan and installed a new package a little over 2 1/2 weeks ago and queen was released 15 days ago. Did my first inspection today and found one hive with a capped queen cell. The queen is laying very good and seems healthy. Why would they make a new queen so soon and should I leave it and let them supersede? (It is in middle of frame). Also you wanted suggestions on the 10,000 subscribers giveaway. I like giving away a package of bee's as there are about 10,000 in a new package. 10,000 for 10,000.
Cool. We are up north of you east of Champaign. If you are starting this year, I hope your bees do okay. It's a bad day for bees today and the next few days, especially new nucs or packages.
I started my girls on April 24th on a money last week I put a 2 videos up so fare. But I'm hating this crazy rain, its like its none stop. it should stop tomorrow and have about a week strait with not rain and the temps should go back up. I also feed my girls from the top. I use the inner cover it already has a nice round home and the can that came with them fits fine and later I use the jars I have ready and it all seems to work so fare good. I had two hives last year and gave my father in law one and his are doing great, mine they die off before summer was over. I don't know what happened its as if they went queen less or something. So trying again this year and pay a lot more attention, and I guess I need to start taking notes on there progress. This time my queens are marked so I will know were she is and make sure she is there and healthy. thanks for the reply back. I will post more videos and any info you could give a bewbe like me would be great full.
How do you unlock these plastic cages, when they are locked to the next one next to it? They do this so they can move them but its not actually in any videos how to separate the package cages from each other.
How cold was it when you said the bees were cold ? And when I watch you with no gloves and no suit I start to quiver 😂 I used to work bees like that but i have to wear a full suit just to walk through the bee yard now , If I can can see the bees on the hive that means that it’s as as close as I can get with no suit , I’ve been stung so many times that my body over reacts now if I get stung , one bee sting now and I’m off of work for Two weeks and the stung body part swells to about 12-18 times it’s normal size , I get sick as a dog , and I hate epi!!! Because I react to epi very sensitively , and the pain is ungodly, what used to hurt like a little burn now feels like I’m getting cut on my nipples a thousand times submerged in popcorn Suttons finest moonshine and/or wiping down your severe sunburn with 80 grit sandpaper gasoline and hot French fry grease, just in case you wondered what kind of pain level you deal with now that I have allergies, I have a bee suit on now so I can watch videos , and cortisone slathered on under my bee suit as well 😊
What's your thoughts on taking a package, and splitting it between two nucs. so you would have the package queen in one nuc box, and a purchased queen in the other nuc box.
The method I saw used two deeps. The package went in the bottom and a full set of drawn comb went in the top deep. They didn't spray any sugar on them. Does this sound like a good way to release a package?
I got a nuc for 30 dollars no queen just cells I've had it for probably two weeks how do I tell if the queeen made it ..if you can't find her in there is there any way to tell?
I know, right! Someone watched my video before I published it and said, "Why didn't you just shake the rest out" and I said because it is the shake free method. :)
Hi Dave, I will be getting my very first packages of bees next month. Can you please tell me how to figure out which is nurse bees and which is worker bees or are they the same thing? Thank you, Sunday from Bama
Nurse bees are young, between 6-12 days and are found only on frames of open brood. They are still called worker bees. It is just their age difference. I'm making a video soon to explain their work based on their age.
Good ones! To me, I believe that the best queens are mutts. Genetic diversity is the best queen. It is almost impossible to hold strong genetic lines in open air mated queens, at least very long.
I hung my queen cage in between the frames with a bamboo stick then I placed my bee-bus in front of the hive with the big hole facing the hive entrance and they just marched right in NO SHAKE, NO SPRAYING SUGAR WATER, NO SMOKE, NO PLACING THE BEE-BUS INSIDE THE HIVE. truly stress free method.
great video thank you for not smoking or sprying the bees with sugar water is totally unnecessary
I don't shake but I do invert the package above the queen on a full brood chamber covered by an empty. box. the bees have always left the package, without fail.
I do it the same way, the come out pretty quick with the box facing down
Thank you soooo much. I'm a new bee keeper this year and it's bad enough I have to listen to those self-sanctimonious individuals describing how they found a new method to install bees. One even said that it is no coincidence that the package size is exactly the size of five removed frames, so even package manufacturers were promoting the "no shake" method. Between hive beetles, nozema, American and European foul brood and varroa mites I don't need to listen to some made up "shaken bee" syndrome to have to deal with. Thanks for once and for all putting this to rest.
Best passive release I have found is to put an empty hive body on top of the box with frames. Remove the queen cage and remove the cork. Lay it on top of the frames then lay the package on top laying sideways with the opening facing the center. Gently remove the board and and place the intercover and telescoping cover. Did this yesterday on a windy day with temps in the low 50's. Just went in 24 hrs later to remove the empty package along with any dead bee's inside. Bees were well clustered all around the queen and working to get her out. Only maybe 20 live bees in the package box. As we moved the box away from the hive they all flew away and back to their hive.
hey dave, with that type of cage that snaps together I had trouble getting them out so I took a flat head screw driver at the attaching corners and opened the cage up completely and brushed them out safely. so far so good. "go bee team"
I find it easier that a wooden cage that I used for years. By the way, an easier way to shake them out is to look at one of the ends. The ends have two snaps that hinge open. Try that next time.
I've found I don't have to shake much at all with the Bee Bus, those are awesome. They can't hold on to the plastic
I do the no-shake method. I find that putting the package in the bottom and having a box of frames above helps draw them out. After a few hours I take the package out and lean it against the hive as long, but only if most have left the package.
Congrats on 10,000! Been with you since before 1,000. I'm happy for you
Thank you for your loyalty!!!!
Great video for beginner like me. Just got my first nuke today!
Thx
Nice!
I'm in Ca and made 40 splits march 7th. I almost lost them due to cold weather but got very lucky. I just always shake them in and be done with the hassle. Maybe for someone that has two colonies that method will work but not 100 plus
wish I took video of mine, I installed this year, I installed 2 packages and left all the frames in, took the queen cage put it right on top of the frames, and just dumped some bees out over queen then laid the package on its side with opening facing the queen and the next day I bet there wasn't 25 bees in each package, one queen was released and the other took a little longer, but a week later had eggs larvae, and now I got capped brood, had to add a box of frame just 2 weeks in
Glad it went well, but for everyone else, remember what works well for one beekeeper may not for another. Alot depends on the temperature. The safest and best way to install a package is to shake them out and feed from the top.
oh I know, next time it may not work and I did feed them also, I think it all helped pull them out and with box on its side facing the queen they kind of had the opening to go out they didn't have to climb up.
I'm a new bee keeper. I'm enjoying learning all these methods of installing bees. I'll be installing my first two packages tomorrow (sunday). I've had some beekeepers tell me to shake them in, and then I've beekeepers from MannLake Bee supply suggesting leaving the cage on it's side as well. I have a question: My thought is to leave the cage open on it's side facing the placed queen as well. The cage laying across the frames and then an empty box over them. How would you suggest I place the frame feeder?
Did this method once. It was uhhhh, 1978 I think. Was 17 and afraid to shake them and they built combs in the package. Never again. Just dump them in and set what's left leaning against the hive bottom. They'll walk in if you put the queen in the hive. One of your students tried to convince me to do it without shaking bees. Nuh uh. Could not do it that way again. NO
Agreed.
Two differences I saw between the way you did it and the way the more successful introductions did it:
1. They had the wood frame packages instead of the plastic ones, which probably did not matter, except they had a thin piece of wood that covered the opening once they took the feeder and queen out, put the cover back on so no bees lost to flying in the air.
2. They had all the frames in their hive box, put an inner cover on and inverted the wood frame package on the inner cover so that the bees walked down into their box. The inversion was done while holding the thin piece of wood in place, then got it close to the inner cover, whipped off the thin piece of wood and put the package in place. They then put a second deep hive body around the box and put the lid on top.
Otherwise the process was the same. Don't know if it would be quite as successful with the plastic packages - due to fit, lack of a cover for the opening. The next day, removal of the package (wood or plastic) and the addition of sugar water would be a huge help. So cold there! Brrr.
Thanks so much for posting David. I love watching you work. I do have a question... Do you have attendants in the queen cage with the queen? I have always been told that if you hang a queen cage, to be sure to leave the candy plug facing up. If it is facing down and the attendants die, their dead body could cover the exit, preventing the queen from escaping the cage. Wondering about your thoughts on this, since you are The Man!!! Again, thanks for your efforts. By the way...I wish you guys were putting out those podcasts. I loved listening to ya'll while I put equipment together, or drove down the highway.
Thanks Christopher! We are hoping to start up our podcasts soon. We do not place attendants in queen cages in packages. We do, of course, when we ship bees. The plastic queen cages provide an easy way for queens to be fed in when used in packages without attendants. Regarding queen cage up so dead attendants can fall away from hole...never worry about bees moving dead bees out of the way. Makes no difference to me.
Lol. Now you're at 111k subscribers. "We're at 10,000 subscribers."
Congratulations on 10,000 subscribers
Thanks Mark, what sort of video should I do to celebrate???
Simple.....The joys of beekeeping
Yes. I think the package should be on top of the frames
Part of problem is it's cold raining so UK that's why bunched up right
I tried this procedure. unfortunately I also had an Rogue Queen.and she swarmed with half of my package. she didnt leave the package box at first and in three days of rain they built comb and had brood. couldnt tell till i eventually shook them but it was too late and she swarmed.
I just did this on Saturday here in Iowa. I checked on them yesterday (Tuesday). They are all clustered on the queen cage so I don't think they have released her yet. (Bee Team 6)
Hi Lonika, thanks for being a beeteam6 member!
I looked at some bees I had recently and they were so sold they're acting dead. Interesting to see another cold hive opened up for the sake of science.
Since this video is about package's, I have a question from a 3rd year beekeeper. I am in south central Michigan and installed a new package a little over 2 1/2 weeks ago and queen was released 15 days ago. Did my first inspection today and found one hive with a capped queen cell. The queen is laying very good and seems healthy. Why would they make a new queen so soon and should I leave it and let them supersede? (It is in middle of frame).
Also you wanted suggestions on the 10,000 subscribers giveaway. I like giving away a package of bee's as there are about 10,000 in a new package. 10,000 for 10,000.
I heard you say Illinois were at I'm around Mount Vernon Illinois, I live in Opdyke east of Mount Vernon. I'm New to beekeeping.
Cool. We are up north of you east of Champaign. If you are starting this year, I hope your bees do okay. It's a bad day for bees today and the next few days, especially new nucs or packages.
I started my girls on April 24th on a money last week I put a 2 videos up so fare. But I'm hating this crazy rain, its like its none stop. it should stop tomorrow and have about a week strait with not rain and the temps should go back up. I also feed my girls from the top. I use the inner cover it already has a nice round home and the can that came with them fits fine and later I use the jars I have ready and it all seems to work so fare good. I had two hives last year and gave my father in law one and his are doing great, mine they die off before summer was over. I don't know what happened its as if they went queen less or something. So trying again this year and pay a lot more attention, and I guess I need to start taking notes on there progress. This time my queens are marked so I will know were she is and make sure she is there and healthy. thanks for the reply back. I will post more videos and any info you could give a bewbe like me would be great full.
10.007 subscribers
How do you unlock these plastic cages, when they are locked to the next one next to it? They do this so they can move them but its not actually in any videos how to separate the package cages from each other.
Yeah on 10,007!
How cold was it when you said the bees were cold ? And when I watch you with no gloves and no suit I start to quiver 😂 I used to work bees like that but i have to wear a full suit just to walk through the bee yard now , If I can can see the bees on the hive that means that it’s as as close as I can get with no suit , I’ve been stung so many times that my body over reacts now if I get stung , one bee sting now and I’m off of work for Two weeks and the stung body part swells to about 12-18 times it’s normal size , I get sick as a dog , and I hate epi!!! Because I react to epi very sensitively , and the pain is ungodly, what used to hurt like a little burn now feels like I’m getting cut on my nipples a thousand times submerged in popcorn Suttons finest moonshine and/or wiping down your severe sunburn with 80 grit sandpaper gasoline and hot French fry grease, just in case you wondered what kind of pain level you deal with now that I have allergies, I have a bee suit on now so I can watch videos , and cortisone slathered on under my bee suit as well 😊
Over 10 k great work David
I did this but I tipped the container upside down they came out better than the one I left up like this
Upside down on the bottom board????
What's your thoughts on taking a package, and splitting it between two nucs. so you would have the package queen in one nuc box, and a purchased queen in the other nuc box.
Not good. It makes each group too small especially like this week when the temps are in the 30s-40s at night. 3lbs are no less works for me.
people : How hot is David?
Me : David burns. :)
The method I saw used two deeps. The package went in the bottom and a full set of drawn comb went in the top deep. They didn't spray any sugar on them. Does this sound like a good way to release a package?
Who knows. On a cold night, you'd have two deeps as open space. I don't like the idea.
Why would you disturb the hive with the temps so low
Hello u should have put a inner cover and u should have feed them sugar sirop
Some say tomato
Some say tomata
I got a nuc for 30 dollars no queen just cells I've had it for probably two weeks how do I tell if the queeen made it ..if you can't find her in there is there any way to tell?
Yup, look for eggs and brood.
Hey David, do I need to suit up when installing a package?
The method where you don't shake the bees. Except, you have to shake the bees a bit.
I know, right! Someone watched my video before I published it and said, "Why didn't you just shake the rest out" and I said because it is the shake free method. :)
👍
Hi Dave, I will be getting my very first packages of bees next month. Can you please tell me how to figure out which is nurse bees and which is worker bees or are they the same thing? Thank you, Sunday from Bama
Nurse bees are young, between 6-12 days and are found only on frames of open brood. They are still called worker bees. It is just their age difference. I'm making a video soon to explain their work based on their age.
Mother Nature: You can't fit all four season's in a week.
Illinois: Hold my beer.
One my favorite post to describe illinois weather.
In Ireland, it’s 4 seasons in a day. Hold my whiskey.
If is package without queen?
What breed of honeybee do you recommend for a beginner?
Good ones! To me, I believe that the best queens are mutts. Genetic diversity is the best queen. It is almost impossible to hold strong genetic lines in open air mated queens, at least very long.
OK, will you be raising queens from your 2000 dollar queen?
07:58 Wait, beekeepers get stung?
This is why no one does this. You end up having to shake them out anyhow.
That way seems terrible
Your bees come in plastic? That's a real shame.