Before Your Bees Arrive: Preparation Checklist
Preparation is everything. A fully assembled hive with foundation, a ready feeder, and all gear laid out the night before makes installation smooth and stress-free. Rushing on installation day leads to mistakes — and a rejected queen.
Position your hive in its final location before installation. Once 10,000 bees are inside, moving the hive is a serious undertaking. Choose a spot with morning sun, afternoon shade, and a windbreak. The entrance should face southeast in the Northern Hemisphere so the morning sun warms the bees early and they start foraging sooner.
Foundation in every frame is non-negotiable. Package bees have no comb — they must draw it from scratch. Without foundation, bees build wild comb in all directions, making future inspections nearly impossible. Use wax-coated plastic foundation or pure beeswax foundation for the fastest drawing.
When Your Package Arrives
Packages arrive in a screened box with buzzing bees. Store in a cool, dark place for up to 24 hours maximum. Check the queen cage immediately — she must be alive. Spray the screen lightly with 1:1 syrup to keep bees fed while waiting.
The sound is intense — 10,000 bees buzzing inside a small screened box is loud. This is completely normal. Do not be alarmed by the noise or by bees clustering on the outside of the screen. They are simply trying to get out and find their queen.
Store the package in a cool (60–70°F), dark location like a garage or basement. Do not leave it in a hot car, in direct sun, or near a heater. Heat kills bees rapidly in a confined package. If you must wait more than a few hours, lightly mist the outside screen with 1:1 sugar syrup every 12 hours. The bees will suck the syrup through the screen mesh.
⚠️ Critical: Check the queen cage before you do anything else. She is in a small wooden or plastic cage attached inside the package. Look through the screen — she should be alive and moving. If she is dead, contact your supplier immediately. Do not install a package with a dead queen unless you have a replacement on the way.
Installation Day: Step-by-Step Guide
Installation takes 30–60 minutes. Work on a calm, sunny morning above 60°F. Keep your smoker lit, move slowly, and do not skip protective gear. The 10 steps below walk you through shaking bees, installing the queen cage, and closing the hive without losing your nerve.
Choose the right moment — mid-morning, above 60°F, calm and sunny
Bees are most docile on warm, still mornings. Avoid installing in the evening — bees have less time to settle before nightfall. Avoid windy days — wind blows bees around and makes the process chaotic.
Suit up completely — this is not a day to skip protective gear
Full suit, veil, gloves, and closed-toe boots. Even package bees can sting, especially if they are overheated or stressed. You will be handling the package close to your body while shaking — protect yourself.
Light your smoker — cool white smoke, not hot dark smoke
Use natural smoker fuel like pine needles, burlap, or cardboard. You want thick, cool white smoke. Hot smoke angers bees. A few gentle puffs across the top of the package calms them before you open it.
Remove 4–5 frames from the center of the brood box to create space
Pull frames gently and lean them against the hive stand. You need a large open space in the center where the package will sit while you work. The bees will cluster here around the queen cage.
Remove the package's wooden cover and pull out the queen cage
The queen cage is usually hung inside a slot in the package lid or tucked between two top bars. Gently remove her cage first and set it aside safely — she is the most valuable thing in the box.
Inspect the queen cage — confirm queen is alive, locate candy plug end
Look through the screen. She should be moving. One end of the cage has a candy plug — a white or tan candy stopper held in place by a cork or metal cap. The bees will eat through this candy to release her over 3–5 days.
Install the queen cage between two center frames — candy plug facing down
Wedge the queen cage between two center frames, screen side exposed to the bees. Candy plug must face downward so the queen exits onto the bottom board, not up into empty space. Bees will cluster around the cage to feed and attend her.
Shake the package — hold over the open hive and shake firmly downward
Lift the package directly over the hive opening and shake firmly downward. Most bees will drop into the hive in one or two shakes. Bang the box sharply on the side to dislodge stragglers. Some bees will fly — this is normal.
Replace the removed frames slowly — gently push bees aside, avoid crushing
Slide frames back into place one by one, working from the outside toward the center. Use the flat end of your hive tool to gently push bees out of the way so you do not crush them between frame ears. Crushed bees release alarm pheromone.
Add your feeder immediately and close the hive — don't open again for 5–7 days
Place the feeder on top and add the inner cover and telescoping top. Walk away. Resist the urge to peek inside for at least 5 days. The colony needs uninterrupted time to release the queen, accept her pheromone, and start drawing comb.
💡 Tip: Do not panic about bees crawling on you during installation. Stay calm, move slowly. The bees from a new package have no hive to defend yet — they are unusually docile. Once they are installed and the hive is closed, the colony will quickly establish guard bees and become more defensive.
⚠️ Do NOT remove the candy plug from the queen cage yourself. The bees release the queen naturally by eating through the candy over 3–5 days. This gradual release allows the colony to accept the queen's pheromone. If you remove the plug manually, the bees may ball and kill her before accepting her scent.
The First Week After Installation
Wait 5–7 days before opening the hive. On day 5–7, check that the queen is released and laying eggs, the feeder is being consumed, and comb is being drawn. Do not open before day 5 — disturbing the colony before the queen is released causes rejection.
What to check at day 5–7
Keep the feeder full with 1:1 syrup continuously for the first 4–6 weeks. A new package has zero stores and must draw all comb from scratch. Without constant feeding, the colony will starve before it can forage naturally. Expect to refill the feeder every 3–5 days during this critical period.
Do not stop feeding until the colony has drawn 6–8 frames of comb and the hive feels heavy with stored syrup. At that point, you can remove the feeder if a nectar flow is underway. If not, keep feeding. A well-fed package colony will build population much faster and is more likely to survive its first winter.
⚠️ What not to do: Do not open the hive before day 5 — disturbing the colony before the queen is accepted causes rejection or balling. Do not stop feeding until 6–8 frames are drawn. And do not add a honey super until the brood box is 80% drawn — the bees need every frame for brood and stores.
Package vs Nucleus Colony: Which Should You Buy?
Packages cost $35–$55 and ship by mail nationwide. Nucleus colonies cost $130–$170 and must be purchased locally. Nucs are established colonies with drawn comb, brood, and a proven queen — much lower risk for beginners. Packages are cheaper and more widely available but take 6–8 weeks to establish.
| Factor | Package | Nucleus Colony |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $35–$55 | $130–$170 |
| Establishment speed | Slower (6–8 weeks) | Faster (already established) |
| Risk | Low | Very low |
| Local availability | Ships by mail nationwide | Buy locally only |
| Best for | Budget-conscious beginners | Beginners who want a faster start |
If you have a local supplier offering nucs within driving distance, a nucleus colony is almost always the better choice for a first-year beekeeper. You get a colony that is already established — the queen is proven, comb is drawn, brood is hatching, and the population will grow from day one. A package, while cheaper, requires you to nurse a population from zero comb and zero stores.
That said, packages have advantages. They ship by mail, so you can order from anywhere. They come with a new, young queen. And they force you to learn the fundamentals of comb building and feeding. Many experienced beekeepers prefer packages for these reasons. If you are on a tight budget and willing to put in extra care, a package is perfectly viable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Maximum 3 days. Install within 24–48 hours of arrival for best results. Spray syrup on the screen every 12 hours if you must wait. After 3 days, mortality rates rise dramatically and the package will be too weak to establish.
Contact your supplier immediately — most reputable suppliers replace dead queens within 24–48 hours. In the meantime, you can install the package without a queen. The bees will attempt to make an emergency queen from young larvae if you have a frame with eggs to give them.
Leave it near the hive entrance for 24–48 hours. Remaining bees in the box will find their way to the hive by following the pheromone trail. Then remove and dispose of the box.
Allow 7–10 days. The queen needs time to be released, for the colony to accept her, and for her to settle into laying. If you do not see eggs by day 10, open the hive and check for queen presence. If she is not laying, she may not have been accepted.
No. Wait for a calm, sunny day with temperatures above 60°F. Rain, wind, and cold temperatures all stress the bees and increase the risk of queen rejection. A wet installation also makes it harder for bees to cluster properly and warm the brood nest.