getting package bees

[larrymn]

I am getting some package bee's in a week or so and I want to start them in mediums, should I use 1 or 2 mediums to start them? I have alway started in deeps before.

[psfred]

Use one, only difference between a medium and a deep is that you will need to put the second box on sooner, I think.

Probably need a third box, too, eventually.

Peter

[virginiawolf]

Hi larrymn, I have only put them in a deep before as well.... so i'm guessing to a degree but I would think one medium would be fine. Feed them for a month or so to save them energy on foraging for nectar so they can get to building wax for the queen to lay in. They should take off after a month or so. Add the second medium when things look well established in the first medium. Hopefully someone who has actually started packages in mediums will respond. I'm curious if your instinct is along the lines of what I'm thinking I'm planning on putting packages in 5 frame deep nucs to see how that goes. VW

[Charlie B]

A 3 pound package fits nicely in a single medium.

[CoyoteMoss]

I put mine in a single medium. After they get 3-4 frames filled out with brood, I will add the second box. They have to maintain hive temperature and a single medium really helps them a lot.

[BeeCurious]

A single medium will be fine.

Three pounds of bees will also fit in a five frame medium nuc... for a while.

[TheCompound]

I started my first two packages in single medium boxes last spring. Unlike this year, we had a cold, wet spring last year and I think the smaller size of the medium box helped.