Adding a new package of bees to the apiary is one of spring’s most exciting (and slightly nerve-wracking) tasks. Whether you're starting a new hive or replenishing a colony, installing a bee package is a delicate but rewarding process. Here’s how we installed one of our packages this season at Leaky Barn Farm.

Step 1: Order and Pick Up Your Package

Start by checking with your local beekeeping supplier in early winter or spring. Package bees are usually available starting in March or April, but they often sell out fast. A standard package includes roughly 3 pounds of bees (about 10,000 workers) and a separate queen in a small cage.

Once your pickup day arrives, head out early to get your bees. We transported ours in the back of the Jeep, secured and lightly covered for ventilation. The mesh netting helps keep any rogue escapees from buzzing around the car on the way home.

Step 2: Prep the Feeders

Newly installed bees need help getting started. With no comb or stored resources, they rely on sugar syrup to stay energized while they build out their new home. Mix a 1:1 ratio of sugar and warm water, then pour it into mason jars fitted with feeder lids. We use entrance feeders to place the jars at the front of the hive.

Step 3: Suit Up and Head to the Hive

Once your bees are home and your feeders are ready, it’s time to gear up. A bee suit, gloves, and a gentle approach will go a long way in making installation smooth and safe—for both you and the bees. We headed to our small bee yard, nestled at the tree line, with everything prepped and ready.

Step 4: (If you haven’t yet) Open the Hive and Make Room

If you haven’t done so beforehand, open your hive and remove a few frames from the center to create space for the bee cluster. We do this before we head down to the bee yard.

Step 5: Remove the Sugar Syrup and Queen Cage

Inside the package, suspended from the top, you’ll find a can of sugar syrup (used to feed the bees in transit) and a small cage containing the queen and a few attendants. Gently remove both. We use our hive tool to do this, which can be a bit awkward at first. We also use scissors to cut the queen cage free if the cage is stapled to the package using a string. First, take out the syrup can to free the queen cage. Then inspect the queen to make sure she’s alive and healthy.

The queen cage is usually sealed with candy that the workers will chew through over the next few days, gradually releasing her into the hive. Some cages also come with a cork on one end that needs to be removed before installation—just be sure not to remove both ends, or she’ll walk out too early.

Step 6: Install the Bees

Place the queen cage snuggly between two of the empty frames in your hive. Once the queen is safely in the hive, it’s time to shake in the rest of the bees. Shake the bees directly into the hive body. Some bees will take flight—don’t worry, they’ll return once they locate the queen. Place the package near the entrance to the hive overnight to allow the stragglers to find their hive.

Step 7: Close the Hive and Feed

After most of the bees are in, gently close the hive. Place your sugar syrup feeders at the entrance or on top of the inner cover, depending on your setup. We top our hives with a heavy lid or a brick to keep them secure.

Final Thoughts

There’s nothing quite like watching a new colony come to life. Within minutes, bees begin to fan at the entrance and orient to their new home. With the queen accepted and plenty of food available, the hive can begin to build, grow, and thrive.

How to Install a Package of Bees: A Step-by-Step Guide for New-bees