Smokin a newly-packaged hive

[hoodswoods]

Package-in-the-hive method on drawn foundation & 1 frame of capped honey & feeding 2:1. Tomarrow I retrieve the package box, the queen cage (assuming she's been released) and then fill out the remaining frames with drawn foundation and another frame of capped honey.

After only 2 days and a wake-up, should I fire up the smoker, or would that be causing them too much distress so early? Or visa versa?

[SwedeBee1970]

I'd give at least 5 days before peeking inside, 7 days for sure. Queen is not released by then, I'd study how the other bees are treating her, feeding or otherwise. If not released and they're feeding her, open it up and release her.

[AmericasBeekeeper]

You might get away with it, but most of the posts this year are new packages going wrong when they are disturbed early. The worst that can happen if you leave them alone is brace comb in the package.

[honeyman46408]

I just open the hive and remove the package and add frames (14 this year) I will go back and remove the queen cages in 4 to 5 days NO SMOKE.
If I go back in 2 weeks I will smoke because it is their home then.

[hoodswoods]

Reading the posts, it does seem that many are experiencing package problems, but I wouldn't know from experience, having nuced last year.

I do know the problem I had when I only placed 9 undrawn frames in my deep last year and had to cleanup - dealing with comb-spanned frames is something I certainly don't want to experience again.

I spritz lightly as much as I smoke early in the year, and other than a few days of ants (that aren't a problem - so far) works just fine for me (no dead, sticky bees as some have reported).

If leaving them alone for a couple more days would improve their chances, I don't mind dealing with the comb - at least I have lots more drawn foundation to do a swap and deal with 'bridging' later, before my nuc arrives.

I felt that smoke was not the answer so early on, with nothing really for them to defend (except feed), but just wanting to check - thanks for the responses.