Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Placing a hive full of bees
If you have bought hives with bees included, you will probably have taken a look into
the hive with an experienced beekeeper and you will know the state of the queen, brood
and stores. If not, you should at least ascertain from the seller that they have stores to
last them at least a few days.
When the hives arrive you should place them in your prepared positions, generally
facing south east in the Northern Hemisphere and north east in the Southern
Hemisphere. These facings aren't essential, but early sunlight at the hive's entrance can
stimulate bees to an early start. Each hive may arrive with its entrance blocked. Follow
the procedure outlined below:
Place the hive on its stand, which may be a pallet or bricks and so on (I've seen
them on rubber tyres - anything to keep the hive floor off the ground), facing in
the appropriate direction, if possible.
Slightly tilt the hive forward.
Unblock the hive entrance.
Leave the hive for a couple of days to settle down. This 'couple of days' isn't a fixed
figure. If because of work or other commitments you can't look at the bees for
another week, look at them then. You will have ascertained from the seller that
they have stores and so on, otherwise you wouldn't have bought them. If so, they
will be perfectly able to look after themselves.
If, however, you have empty hives with frames of foundation and have purchased
nucleus bees, then the following is the simple procedure for installing them:
Place each nucleus on top of the hive in which it is to be installed, with the entrance
facing the same way as the hive entrance.
Open the nucleus entrance and leave the bees overnight.
The following evening, place the nucleus to one side, open up the hive brood
body and remove four or five (depending on the number of frames in the nucleus)
