I've got a couple families that have expressed interest in bringing their family over to watch while I mess around with the bees. One has children under 10 and the other has children from 2 to 16. They don't think any of them are allergic, but if I'm not mistaken, you don't know if your allergic until the second sting, so who knows.
Anyways, I've got three extra veils. I know both families quite well and a parent will be there with any children. I plan to buy two Nucs in a few weeks, and I was thinking about letting them come over and watch me transfer the bees. It went pretty smooth last year, and I would have a pretty good chance to see the queen while doing it. Both families are also interested in keeping bees, so it might be a chance for them to see if they still like it.
So, does anyone have any suggestions? I'd rather show them a swarm, but that's not quite as easy to plan and organize unless it happens on their land. And I wouldn't normally worry about it, but what would be the best way to calm the bees the most? Would it be better to just pick the Nucs up and transfer the same day, or get them a week early and let them reorient to where the hive is going to be and start collecting before I do it? Should I mist them with some sugar water when I first open? I know you usually do it with a package, but I never felt the need to with a Nuc, but would it keep the flying bees down a little? And I assume it would be best during the middle of the day, or would doing it early and misting them do better?
Thanks
Anyways, I've got three extra veils. I know both families quite well and a parent will be there with any children. I plan to buy two Nucs in a few weeks, and I was thinking about letting them come over and watch me transfer the bees. It went pretty smooth last year, and I would have a pretty good chance to see the queen while doing it. Both families are also interested in keeping bees, so it might be a chance for them to see if they still like it.
So, does anyone have any suggestions? I'd rather show them a swarm, but that's not quite as easy to plan and organize unless it happens on their land. And I wouldn't normally worry about it, but what would be the best way to calm the bees the most? Would it be better to just pick the Nucs up and transfer the same day, or get them a week early and let them reorient to where the hive is going to be and start collecting before I do it? Should I mist them with some sugar water when I first open? I know you usually do it with a package, but I never felt the need to with a Nuc, but would it keep the flying bees down a little? And I assume it would be best during the middle of the day, or would doing it early and misting them do better?
Thanks