DAY #3!!!

Well...Tuesday, Day 3!!!  Debating if we should take the cover off, check to see if the queen is out of it's cage, and if so, add the remaining 5 frames to the hive. More sugar syrup this made this morning, so will add that at the same time.  Hive #1 needs syrup no matter what we decide.  If we don't check for the queen today, we will need to do it Thursday, as tomorrow is supposed to be a rainy day!

1/2 successful!  Hive #1 queen had been released.

The package box was taken out of the deep super and placed in front of the hive, so the bees can easily get home!

Hive #2 was still in its cage.  We adjusted the cage's position, moving it lower into the frame. Also, we poked the candy with a toothpick, trying to help the release process along, and will check again on Thursday.  

Bees are getting back to normal after The Dad Boss and Mom Queen Bee feed them and left them alone -- ha ha.

Finishing Bee Installation

Breathing a sigh of relief with Package #1 in their new home!  The metal can is the sugar water that came in the package to feed the bees as they traveled from the south to our pickup point, and then on to their new home. The syrup in the can was poured into the hivetop feeder along with the syrup made Friday.

We moved on to Package #2. Feeling more confident with our process, we moved a little quicker this second time around!  Plus, we now had some company -- clump of bees from Hive #1 buzzing around!

Two packages of bees, two nice bee hives!  Now to sit back (several yards away!), relax, and watch "The Girls"  get use to their new homes and watch them "dance"!  

SUCCESS!

Here Come "THE GIRLS"!!!

Saturday May 11, 2013:  Bee Day has arrived!  A very exciting day for us! A two and a half hour drive to get "The Girls"

Upon arriving home, the bee packages were placed in the shade and sprayed with cool water.  About 20 minutes later, started spraying with "Sugar  Syrup"  (1:1 ratio of sugar to water for the spring feeding) made yesterday.  This was to feed them and make them a little lethargic, so they will be easier manage as we move them to the hive.

Each package contains 3 lbs of bees.  Some dead bees were on the box floor.

Pried off the cover and took out the Queen cage, got it wrapped to hang between frame 3 and 4, shook some of the bees over the Queen Bee and set the remainder of bees, in the open area of the box, where frames 6 - 10 would be.

Package #1 in their new home!

Melting Wax and Brushing Frames

We melted 2 lbs. of cleaned yellow beeswax and brushed 20 frames for the deep supers, getting ready for the bees.  About 1 lb. of wax = 10 frames.

We made a double boiler using a coffee can.  A crockpot that you know longer use would be good, also.  With the melted wax and a throw away painters brush, we applied the wax to the frames, both sides, about 5 stokes each side.

The frames came out pretty good!  

Unused wax is stored right in the coffee can for when we add the next super.

Hive Anatomy

As we build up the hive, look at the chart below.  We have a "Deep Super" outside and another  to be added as the bees start working.  Hive Top Feeder so we can feed "the girls" sugar syrup while they get used to our north country weather and spring really comes!

Hives Outside!

Spent the day building a hive stand and setting up the hive.  Looking forward to and getting excited about our new friends coming to visit!