It’s best for the bees to get them into their new home as soon as possible. They are stressed from their long travel from California and need to get settled. So we hived them the same day I picked them up. Before opening up the box ‘o bees, Doug is spraying down the bees with sugar water to calm them and once they clean themselves, they are engorged with sugar water and less likely to fly (read: sting).

The Queen is kept in a separate cage. She gets installed after everyone else.

Shaking the bees into the hive.

Look at all those bees in there! (Please excuse the lens cap)

Frames are installed, the Queen cage is put into place, and a pollen patty is added in the corner near Doug. Time to assemble and add a top feeder.

The girls are checking out their new home!