So, finally i have time to write an update! - Of course the Postal-Service notified me during my Monday Morning start-up conference call. I picked up the bees during my lunch-break and installed them asap.
To my surprise their new home seemed already occupied by a rogue hive, but it turned out that were just some robber bees going after the comb and the honey.
So here's the bees right after their arrival at their new home:
They still had ½ of their Syrup in the can, which i filled into one of my home made syrup feeders and placed inside a honey super:
Usually i use larger ½ gallon feeders, but somehow i am out of hive boxes and the larger feeders don't fit into the honey-super…
The transfer from the package into the hive was a bit "bumpy", those were the most aggressive Italian bees ever. I assume they were just hangry. Minor issue with the queen: All her attendance bees were dead and their bodies were blocking the marshmallow plug, so i removed the cork on the other side of the queen-box and hope that the bees have already accepted their new queen after a full week of being with her.
Pollen-patty is thawing and will be installed later.
Thank you USPS for delivering the bees in such a good condition!
This is such a great service from the Postal Service, as well as the chick-delivery service! - When i tell my friends in Europe that you can order duxlings, chicks and bees via mail they simply don't believe me.
There is more to keeping bees than I would ever have guessed. Kind of like chickens, only they don't sit on your lap and get petted.
