Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: chester5731 on May 02, 2017, 11:53:13 pm

Title: New packages and a rainy forecast.
Post by: chester5731 on May 02, 2017, 11:53:13 pm

Thursday I am going to pick up 4 packages of bees. The forecast is calling for rain thru Saturday night. Would I be better off hiving them asap between rain showers or keeping them in the shed on their sides with feeders until Sunday? Too me it seems they would be better off in the hive but I would like some more experienced opinions.

Title: Re: New packages and a rainy forecast.
Post by: Michael Bush on May 03, 2017, 09:21:28 am

I would install them in the rain... it's actually the best time to install as they don't drift and they settle right down.

Title: Re: New packages and a rainy forecast.
Post by: chester5731 on May 03, 2017, 10:58:06 am

Thanks Michael. I guess rain is different than condensation in the winter. I will just hive them when I get them.

Title: Re: New packages and a rainy forecast.
Post by: chester5731 on May 04, 2017, 08:14:37 pm

Well, I got home with the bees this afternoon and it was just sprinkling a little. We went to work and got them hived as quickly as we could. They were some nice looking packages with very few dead bees. Hopefully they do well.

Title: Re: New packages and a rainy forecast.
Post by: Acebird on May 05, 2017, 08:45:16 am

Now pray for sun.

Title: Re: New packages and a rainy forecast.
Post by: erbs honey on May 06, 2017, 12:40:41 am

Yaaaay!

Title: Re: New packages and a rainy forecast.
Post by: erbs honey on May 06, 2017, 12:44:42 am

Yes.  Hope for sun!

Title: Re: New packages and a rainy forecast.
Post by: BeeMaster2 on May 06, 2017, 09:41:38 pm

If you want sun, move down here. We have been hoping for rain for months. We had a big storm pass all around us  last week. No rain. Pastures are drying up, cows are losing weight when they would normally be putting on weight.
Send some of that rain down here.  Pleeaassee.
Jim

Title: Re: New packages and a rainy forecast.
Post by: chester5731 on May 06, 2017, 10:50:49 pm

I would gladly send you some rain as we have plenty. The problem is in July and August we won't be able to buy a good rain.

Title: Re: New packages and a rainy forecast.
Post by: Acebird on May 07, 2017, 01:07:33 pm

The real problem is we can justify pumping oil around and through the country but we can't justify pumping water from areas of excess to areas of drought.  The irony is the country is run by the swamp.

Title: Re: New packages and a rainy forecast.
Post by: chester5731 on May 15, 2017, 10:21:18 pm

Well it's been 11 days since I installed my packages in the rain. All four queens are laying. They are taking sugar syrup and bringing in pollen. So far so good.