Each bee package contains a full-fledged bee colony, which has all the resources for harvesting already in the first season. Bees should be planted in the hive according to certain rules, given its type - cellular or cell-free. It is imperative to properly prepare for the process and ensure proper care for the bees in the future.
Preparing for transplant
Before transplanting the bee colony from the bag, it is important to properly prepare the hive. The following rules must be observed:
- Clean and disinfect the hive. If you ignore this measure, then the family after the transplant can fly off due to extraneous odors. Even new hives need treatment.
- Process the hive inside. To do this, use a blowtorch, after which washing and drying in the sun are required.
- Sweep the hive just before replanting. To do this, take lemon balm, lemon catnip, motherwort.
- Place the hives correctly. Places for them must be allocated in advance.
- Set a drinking bowl, framework with a wax.
- Prepare sugar syrup for feeding.
Bee packages are bought only in spring, respectively, it is during this season that they are transplanted. First, the package should be placed in a cool place for a short time. This will make the bees stray into the club.
Transplanting bees from cellless and honeycomb packages to the hive
For transplanting a colony from a bag into a hive, it is important to consider its type - honeycomb or honeycomb. The features of the procedure depend on this.
Honeycomb bee package
When transplanting bees from a honeycomb bag, you must follow a certain algorithm:
- Place the bag in front of the hive.
- Open the entrance - flight will begin.
- Sweep the bees from the bottom onto the frames.
- Set the frames from the package to the hive - it is important to preserve the arrangement order identical to the package.
- Release the queen when the bees calm down.
In some cases, you can do without flying. It is necessary to put the bee package behind the hive and narrow the entrance - count on 2-3 individuals. Move the frames immediately, not forgetting the order of placement. In this case, the cage with the uterus must be placed between the frames. This option is risky, since insects can search for their hive for a long time.
To release the uterus from the cell, you need to open its upper opening and glue it with wax, puncturing 3-4 holes. The bees will open the foundation and release the queen.
Honeycomb bee package
bee transplant from a honeycomb
Cell-free bee package
The bee transplant procedure in this case is characterized by the fact that it is necessary to harvest the honeycomb. When using a Dadan-Blatt hive for 1.2 kg of a bee colony, 4 frames with foundation are needed, that is, a frame is needed for every 0.3 kg. The foundation is securely attached to the wire, taking into account the forthcoming load.
If the uterus is not isolated, then the bees need to be shaken out into the hive, removing the net. You can do this through the aft hole.
When choosing a hive-lounger or 12-frame, the cell should be fixed between the honeycombs, sprinkle insects with water and shake to the bottom of the hive. When using a multi-body hive, the uterus must be placed in the first body between the frames, and the bee package must be turned over and placed in another department.
Cell-free bee package
transplanting bees from a honeycomb package
On hot days it is better to transplant bees in the evening. For cool days, time does not matter.
Development and inspection of the bee package after transplantation
After transplantation, bees are examined in a day. It is imperative to control an open brood queen. If there is one, then insulate the nest using the side and top pillows.
On examination, the queen often tries to hide between the bees. This behavior is normal, but due to the inexperience of the beekeeper, it can be mistaken for its loss.
After transplanting, the bees immediately begin to rebuild the combs. The next day they will be rebuilt by about 60-70%. The uterus also begins its work from the first day - the next day, eggs are visible in the unfinished cells. Egg production will increase with the rebuilding of the nest.
If the cell-free package develops well, then at the end of the month the printed brood will increase to 20-30 thousand cells. In 12 days they will come out and increase the strength of the family by 2-3 kg. This means that appropriate expansion with wax frames is required. If they are not added, then a developmental delay may occur. There is also a risk of swarming.
If you promote the development of bees, then after a month and a half the mass of a bee colony can reach an average of 4 kg, and after another half month - 6 kg.
When the strength of the bee colony from the package reaches 10 streets, an extension will be required. It must be set at the beginning of the main bribe. Further actions are no different from working with standard bee families.
Top dressing
The family that has moved to the hive from the bee package needs to be fed. Bees will receive carbohydrate feed due to the collection of nectar, and in addition they will need sugar syrup - for its preparation, sugar and water should be taken in a ratio of 1: 1.5.
If the transplantation of a bee colony is carried out in cold weather, and there is no bribe, then it must be fed immediately.
If the bee colony does not have bee bread from the package, you need to put a frame on the family. If there is no stock, then honey-pepper honeycombs can be found at other beekeepers. The frame should be placed near the extreme brood frame.
If there is nowhere to get bee bread, you can make a mixture of 1 kg of honey, 1.6 g of acetic acid, 0.2 kg each of dry feed yeast and soy flour, 0.2 l of water, 2.3 kg of granulated sugar, 80 g of milk powder . Flour and milk should be fat-free. All components must be thoroughly mixed until a homogeneous mass is obtained. After they form cakes of 0.5 kg, lay them on a metal mesh and put on the upper frame bars. Be sure to cover the top dressing with polyethylene.
What is prohibited when transplanting?
When transplanting a colony from a bag into a hive, some actions are prohibited, as they give undesirable results:
- Do not replace wax with honeycomb frames. In this case, the entire bee colony will gather on the honeycomb frame, which will provoke a decrease in building energy.
- Do not expand the transplanted colony within the first month. The frames will be occupied by the printed brood, and the insects from the bag will gradually die off. In the last decade, young individuals will begin to emerge, so the bee colony will gain strength again.
Watch the video that shows how to transplant bees into a hive from a bee package:
The use of bee packages means certain benefits for beekeepers. It is necessary to transplant the bee colony into the hive correctly, after preliminary preparation and taking into account the type of bee package - it is of greater importance at the preparatory stage. After transplantation, the bee family must be monitored and fed.