Hi all,
I released my bees yesterday evening!!!
I read about doing it, asked questions & had conversations about doing it
& now that it's done, I thought I'd share with all my experience.
Have to admit, I was a little nervous, probably more anxiuos than anything, that I would do everything " correct. "
I wore the full suit w/ gloves had my smoker going...
one guy said spray them w/ water after the queen cage is removed so they won't fly as much.
another said have the smoker ready & use it to calm them a bit, the method I chose.
well, when I removed the syrup can from the package box, it was sweet music to my ears...
it was no big deal really, the bees just wanted to get outta that box, most of them anyway.
had quite a bit of one box that just didn't want to be shook out,
so, I called a new bee friend & he sugested I place a branch per box, in the hole where the syrup can was, leading up to the hive bodies.
this worked very well!!
they played follow the leader for a while after that, & pretty much emptied the package boxes
gotta say, being around all those bees calmed me, & I know this will sound weird, but made me feel like a new father with 20,000 babies!!!
and yes, it is definitely addictive!!!
gonna check on their fist flight now
later,
JP