Time of day to hive a package

[Ravenseye]

I have a package coming soon. Unfortunately, I'm picking it up on a Monday of a very busy week. I'd rather not wait until the weekend to hive them so my question is....how late in the day can I work them? If I leave work a little early and drop them in just before dark, will that work? Thinking it through, it seems like it would be fine as they would pattern their new home first thing in the morning. Any thoughts? I've always done this first thing in the morning before.

[jean-marc]

Best done in the evening/night especially if the weather is warm.

Jean-Marc

[Michael Bush]

Late is probably better anyway. It gets them calmed down and gives them overnight to settle in. But anytime works ok.

[blkcloud]

I hived 2 swarms yesterday at noon.. they all seemed happy!;)

[sqkcrk]

I hived 2 swarms yesterday at noon.. they all seemed happy!;)

That's somewhat different from hiving a package, I would think.

[Ravenseye]

Noon is way earlier than I was thinking. I would guess that, even taking off from work early, I wouldn't be hiving them until an hour before dark. I work a ways from where I live, so I'd be picking them up, driving home, changing and hiving. Might grab a beer on the way out to the hive though!:o

[Bob D]

Is the beer for you or the bees? LOL!

My packages are coming on the 18th of April. In previous years I've always been told to hive in the afternoon. While it's still a tad warm is good. But I hived last year as the sun was going down at about 6:30 PM or so. By the time I got done with 3 packages it was loosing light quick and they did good through the summer.

This your first package?

I'm in SE New Hampshire...

Good luck!

Bob

[Ravenseye]

No, it's not my first package but the others have always been in the late morning or early afternoon. The beer is for me unless the girls want a sip. Hey, I share......

I'm just below Nashua. Also hoping for some decent weather since I don't want to be out there when it's too cool. I have another package coming next month as well as a nuc but I'm less concerned about those. The days are warmer...longer, etc.

Thanks for the help!

[blkcloud]

That's somewhat different from hiving a package, I would think.
I mis spoke they were packages.. not wild swarms..