1 dead Queen, 6 stings, 2 upset Black Labs

[Jesse]

Put 4 NWC packages in today.

I couldn't get the syrup can out without turning the box over and pounding on it. The last two I just ripped the screen off the side. One queen was dead, she seemed to be smaller than the others - maybe she wasn't producing enough pheromones? A little disappointing - I combined two together. One of those "ship at your own risk" deals.

I will split this one later and give them a frame with eggs from my favorite colony as soon as it gets nice enough for drones.

I got stung 6 times in the neck (they are sneaky little girls) - all within 2 square inches. Nothing like building your tolerance in the spring!

My two black labs came with me for their first package install. One was running in the opposite direction by the time I was finished.

While it might not have gone as well as I would have liked (when does it) - I consider it a great day.

It was finally over 40 - Sunny - AND I got to work with my bees!

Let the season begin.......

[sierrabees]

The only statement more rediculous than "Trust me, I know what I'm doing," is "If everything goes as planned."

[Chef Isaac]

They should ship you another queen.... I would call them and talk with them about this. What a waste to have to combine an expensive package.

[the kid]

saying number three ''' It will only take a min ''' when the wife hears that she knows we will not be going any place soon .... wish my girls would get here so I can get stung to ..
the kid

[BjornBee]

Welcome to beekeeping Jesse. Next time you install packages, I have one word for you....video! ;)

[bluegrass]

yeah....I love the videos....My wife thought she was going to shoot some of me, but after a few hours decided there was not enough screeming and running for her to have fun doing it.

[Michael Bush]

My guess is there's a queen loose in the package and that's why they killed the queen. Still, you could contact the provider and see if they will replace her in case there isn't.

[John Gesner]

I would have called the provider before combining the two, but then hind sight is 20/20. If you did everything you should have to protect your packages before install, the queens should have been fine.

Last year, I ordered 10 queens and prepared to requeen some of my hives. When I got to the yard, one of the queens was dead. Since I was replacing existing queens, I wasn't too worked up about it at the time, but I was still out a $12.00 queen. I called the provider later that day, thanked them for the queens, and mentioned off-handedly that one of the queens didn't make it. They sent me another one, no questions asked.

[Jesse]

The only help I had was my dad's girlfriend taking pictures while I cursed whoever put the packages together.

I guess I could have complained but the company buys the packages from a supplier - marks and/or clips the queens and resells them. I had wanted to add on to my order over two months ago, but they were sold out of both packages and queens - I guess I almost expected something to go wrong as i've heard horror stories before.

I'll try and stay more postive as I have two more shipments of packages coming in.

I do have four colonies that over-wintered well - two of them are boomers - so I do have some resources to play with.

I split the hive that I had combined and gave them each a frame of eggs from my best queen - hopefully that will work. The packages I just got had quite a few drones - if they queen they produce doesn't do well I can always requeen later.

It is still a couple of weeks before the dandylions pop - so I have some time. I have some queens coming in mid-may.

Thanks for the input everyone

Jesse
I ramble a lot don't I?