Shipment travel time

[Ravenseye]

Hi everyone,

I'm concerned about my first shipment of bees. The supplier said they shipped them on Saturday, the 6th. Here it is Wednesday the 10th and the post office just called to say "no bees today". I had given them a heads up on Monday. On top of that, it's been raining for the past few days here in Massachusetts and is expected to stay wet and cool through the end of the week. The supplier couldn't tell me where the bees are and they don't do tracking numbers.

If the bees come in tomorrow, I'm thinking that they'll really need to get hived right away, no matter what the weather is. Obviously, as I'm a novice, it might take me a little while longer to go through the hiving process than someone who is more experienced. I'm worried that they'll be cold / hungry / weak from the trip and my efforts might make it worse.

Any suggestions? My wife said to put up our small popup canopy if it was pouring so that we'd at least be dry. The supplier said to not worry about the cold but to get them in the hive and fed as soon as possible. I know if I was on the road and caged up this long, I wouldn't be feeling too good about things right now.

I'd love suggestions. Thanks in advance!

[Sundance]

The good ol' post office......... Even if you had tracking they never update it to let you know where the package is. UPS and Fed Ex are wonderful models for tracking and delivery.

I had switched exclusivly to UPS Overnight for queend due to death and damage through USPS Priority or Express Mail. Wish they handled package bees...

The supplier is right...... Cold is not the culprit. Heat and lack of water are.

[ May 10, 2006, 10:22 AM: Message edited by: Sundance ]

[Michael Bush]

The first thing to do when they arrive is spray or paint some syrup on the screen to feed them. If they are fed and in a cool dark place they can last quite a while.

[BMogardo]

Mix up a batch of syrup and spray or paint the sides of the cage. Make sure your equipment is all set up and ready to go in the location you have selected. I have installed packages in the rain and once in the snow. They will be fine. Usually the rain lets up now and then so install then rather than during a down pour. If I need to do a quick install, I open the package and get the can out. Then remove the queen cage and place it in the hive as I'm sure you have already learned. Next I put a second deep on the first and put the package inside the second deep laying on it's side. Put both covers back on and your done. The bees leave on their own and you avoid installing any dead bees and it's over quickly with very little exposure to the elements. I have learned that bees are pretty hearty, perhaps more than we give them credit for. I'm sure you and they will do fine. Who knows, you might even catch a break in the weather...at least that is what they are saying for the next few hours.