Honey Bee World

Sorry if this topic was covered but I couldn't find it. The weather is really bad here cold, rainy, and windy. So just wondering how long the bees can stay in the package? We just picked them up this morning. Thanks for any suggestions

Sorry for late reply. Hopefully you got them in. My packages came with an info sheet saying if they couldn't be hived right away to dribble some heavy sugar syrup on top screen. 4 tablespoons, and slowly. Repeat every 12 hours. Ideal storage temp was given as 10 - 15 C
Brian

No unfortunately we didn't it was raining and cold and windy last night, sucky beeweather. So we plan to put them in tonight right now they are just relaxing in our basement. They say to keep them somewhere cool and dark so they are hanging out there until this evening. They still have lots of sugar syrup in their cans and they are just quietly humming so don't seem to stressed

Excellent. My packages were the Arataki tubes, no feed can. It was neat to see all those little bee tongues drinking through the screen.

So just wondering how long the bees can stay in the package?So just wondering how long the bees can stay in the package?

A maximum of one week if they have syrup cans. After one week, you will have a lot of dead bees dropping and it is harder for the bees to recover. It is really beneficial if you can add a frame of brood to the package when you install them.

You can also spray syrup on the sides of the cages to feed the bees if you put syrup in a clean sprayer.

Expect them to start building combs in the package cage if you keep them very long, which can make removing the syrup can a pain. I would also direct release the queen when you install the package. The bees have already accepted her after being with her for so long, and you want her to start laying as soon as possible.

Well the weather has cleared up so in a couple of hours they should be in their new homes. Thanks BTD123 and Countryboy for answering. Unfortunately we don't have any brood frames for them but we do have drawn out comb and frames of honey for them so hopefully they settle in good

Best of luck, looks like we get a weather break here in AB soon.
Happy beekeeping!
Brian
53 N, 115 W

We got the packages in but unfortunately in 2 of the packages the queens were dead. And they have been for quite awhile kinda shrivelled up. And there was no fondant or candy by her as well there was no couple of workers in there with her like usual. So hopefully there is a queen in the bunch we will check them in about 4 days and look for eggs.