Glossary
A practical guide to transferring honey bee colonies from temporary housing (nucleus colonies, package bees, swarm trap boxes) into standard hive equipment, covering the techniques, timing, and management considerations for a smooth transition.
A package of bees (typically 3 pounds, approximately 10,000 bees with a separately caged queen) is installed into a prepared hive body containing drawn comb or foundation. Remove 3-4 center frames to create space. Remove the queen cage from the package, verify the queen is alive, and suspend the cage between two center frames with the candy plug accessible.
Shake the remaining bees from the package into the hive over the queen cage. Replace the removed frames, close the hive, and provide syrup feed. The bees will release the queen over 2-4 days as they eat through the candy plug, giving the colony time to accept her pheromone.
A nucleus colony (nuc) is simpler to install because the bees are already established on frames with their queen, brood, food, and drawn comb. Simply transfer the nuc frames (in the same order and orientation they were in the nuc box) into the center of the new hive body. Fill remaining space with new frames of foundation.
Position the new hive exactly where the nuc box was sitting so returning foragers find their entrance. Transfer in the late afternoon when most foragers are home. Provide syrup feed to support comb drawing on the new foundation frames.
Transfer during late afternoon or early evening when most foragers are back in the hive. Avoid transfers during cold weather (below 50 degrees), heavy rain, or in the heat of midday sun. Spring is the ideal season because the colony has maximum time to build up before winter.
Bees typically settle within 1-2 days and resume normal foraging and brood rearing quickly. A queen from a nuc may continue laying within hours. A package queen needs 2-4 days for release and acceptance before she begins laying.
Yes. Provide 1:1 sugar syrup (spring) in an internal feeder to support comb building, especially if the colony has been given undrawn foundation. Continue feeding until the colony is established on drawn comb and a natural nectar flow is available.
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