Question for old pros

**honeyman46408** · 05-10-2011, 08:27 PM

One of our club members installed 8 packages today and all the bees have left the queens and collected on a limb by the hives.

Any one have any ideas what is going on?

**Omie** · 05-10-2011, 09:13 PM

Yikes.
has this person had bees before?
Did they treat the new bees with anything, or put any treatments in the hives?
Did they store frames with any chemicals or paint the insides of the hives with stain, etc?
Are the hives made from any weird or treated wood?
Are the hives & frames used or new? (maybe previously slimed by beetles or stored with mothballs etc?)

**tommyt** · 05-10-2011, 09:49 PM

Are the hives 7 frames used or new? (maybe previously slimed by beetles or stored with mothballs etc?
I ask the same about the box's
They must stink?? or maybe a disease and the bee's realize it all 8 left that is a bit out of the norm IMHO

**Tom G. Laury** · 05-10-2011, 09:55 PM

Most likely had a loose queen in one of the packages. They then "swarm".

**HONEYDEW** · 05-10-2011, 10:49 PM

Originally Posted by Tom G. Laury

They then "swarm".

I could believe that for one of his hives but for all eight, unless they where shook from the same hive??

**honeyman46408** · 05-11-2011, 03:32 AM

The bees were put in dead out hives no treatments, lots of honey,3rd year keeper.One of the packages had a dead queen but they are still in package waiting for a new queen.

**mac** · 05-11-2011, 04:39 AM

Sounds like a bunch of loose queens. We installed 80 packages and had bees in the bushes, under the hives, up in the trees. Lots of loose queens shaken into those packages.

**naturebee** · 05-11-2011, 05:39 AM

With package bees, the bees may not have established
total commitment to the queen provided, and also, they
need to learn the location of the hive.

My bet is that the beekeeper that installed them was
a bit too aggressive in shaking the bees out, allot
of bees became disorientated, allot began to fly, and not
knowing where to go, did the only thing they could by
collecting on a branch.

Packages are best hived towards evening, grass placed
in the entrance to slow the tenancy to abandon the
hive, these things will help prevent disorientation.

Best Wishes,
Joe Waggle
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/H...eybeeArticles/

**honeyman46408** · 05-11-2011, 06:05 AM

Sorry Joe they were put in late evening and were not shaken packages were put inside the hive with the queen put in between frames.

**Barry** · 05-11-2011, 07:11 AM

I don't know Ed, I'm not impressed with my package bees. Didn't swarm, but the queen is sure taking her time getting down to business. I did find a couple of eggs, but most of the comb is about filled up with stores and a couple of queen cups have been started. Will have to keep an eye on them. Are you bees west coast bees?

**honeyman46408** · 05-11-2011, 10:10 AM

These packages were NICE looking heavy (I think some had at the least 31/2#s of bees) very few dead bees on the bottom and out of 175 there were 3 dead queens.

I just put the last 2 in 5 frame nucs (because some did not pick them up

) and the bottom still not covered with dead bees.

**mothergoosemagic** · 05-11-2011, 01:05 PM

I was advised when installing packages to keep the bees inside the hive for a day or two so they can get adjusted to their new home. I placed the package box inside the deep, and set the feed can over the inner cover hole so they could still get to it. Covered the whole thing with a super & regular cover for space. Pretty much do the same thing with swarms and so far, it's worked out.