They don't need to be contained to trigger orientation, they are acting like a swarm and will orient as soon as hived.
An old brood comb, if you have one, is a great boost, but not necessary.
Once in a great while, a package will abscond, but it's rare and I don't know what you could to to prevent it, if they don't like that nice hive you are providing they don't like it.
I have shook hundreds ofpackages into hives and always wanted and needed the entrance open so the many strays and stragglers can gtet in and join a home. If you closed the hives up, where would those hundred or thousands of bees go?
Welcome to the site F.W.! I got to install packages for the first time in Pickens today. I was mentored by the V.P. of the Pickens Bee Assoc. I will be installing 4 of my own next Saturday. It was exciting. I'm pumped! Mine will be north ot Aunt Sue's above Hwy. 11.
I installed two packages today in Easley. I am a member of the Pickens Bee Assoc. I have one more package to install coming in at the end of this month.
Were you in the beginner class? My wife and I were. Kevin -. V.P. let me help him yesterday. I had a ball. I can't wait to get my own. He is going to drop by next weekend in case anything goes wrong. He'll be up this way anyway helping another beginner class student. Where are your bees?
I do it in the evening or screen them in for the day and open it in the evening.
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