Rain on Bee Day

[Donovan J]

So I'm getting my bees shipped in tomorrow but it's supposed to rain all day tomorrow so I was wondering should I do the cold weather install and put the queen in then place the package upside down on the inner cover then put a deep box around it and close it up or is there another better way? Or should I just wait until theres a warmer sunnier day?

[Donovan J]

Heres the forecast for the next four days.

[Ben Framed]

Personally I have not had experience with packages. Maybe this will help. Look up the topic  "Cool weather package install?"

Phillip

[Donovan J]

Personally I have not had experience with packages. Maybe this will help. Look up the topic  "Cool weather package install?"

Phillip

Basically said what I suggested I was going to do. I'll have to see how hard it's raining and then see what the plan is from there.

[Nock]

Got anywhere covered but open you can put them in under?  Then once they settle for night move hive to location?  Might work.

[van from Arkansas]

Xerox, what you texted if fine... unless it is pouring, hard rain.

I installed a package 2 weeks ago, light/medium rain, however, the queen and attendants got wet.  Only takes 2-3 drops of rain. The queen was cold, wet, moving extremely slow.  So, I took the queen inside and with a hair dryer, slowly warmed her up and dried the queen.  Within minutes all was fine, the queen active and acting normal and placed in the hive.  Released the following day and she is laying, all is well with the hive.

Bees can take cold, but not wet and cold.

BTW, I also will receive a package tomorrow, Monday.  The weather is supposed to be good in Arkansas.  I purchased two packages this year.  Need some new blood, new genetics.  Last year, I purchased some queens from California, this year, bees from Georgia that I hope is different genetics.