Populating a new beehive marks the true beginning of a beekeeping journey. Successful colony establishment requires a precise sequence of steps to ensure the new colony starts strong. The first year is foundational for the colony’s long-term health and productivity. A strong start gives the bees the best chance to build comb, raise brood, and gather necessary winter stores.
Sourcing Your Bees
New beekeepers typically have three main avenues for acquiring bees. The most common source is the package bee, which consists of a screened box containing roughly three pounds of worker bees, sugar syrup for transit, and a mated queen held separately in a small cage. Packages are the most affordable option and are widely available earlier in the spring. However, they are an artificial swarm that must build their home from scratch, leading to a slower initial buildup and a greater risk of the workers not accepting the new queen.
The alternative is a nucleus colony, or “nuc,” which is a small, established colony typically housed on four or five frames of drawn comb. These frames contain a laying queen, all stages of brood, and existing stores of honey and pollen, giving the colony a significant head start. Nucs are more expensive and available later in the season, but their established brood nest and proven queen increase the likelihood of rapid growth and survival.
A third, opportunistic method is swarm capture, which involves collecting a reproductive swarm of wild bees. Swarms are free and often motivated to draw comb, but their availability is unpredictable and they may carry unknown pests or diseases. New beekeepers typically choose between the predictability and lower cost of a package or the stability and faster establishment of a nuc.
Preparing the Hive for Arrival
Preparation of the hive and the apiary site must be completed before the bees arrive. The hive location should receive full morning sun, ideally facing east or southeast, to encourage early foraging activity, while also offering a windbreak. Placing the hive on a sturdy stand or cinder blocks elevates it off the damp ground, which helps with moisture control and deters pests.
All hive components, including the bottom board, at least one deep hive body (brood box), and the frames, should be assembled and positioned. An entrance reducer, set to the smallest opening, should be in place to help the small, newly installed colony defend against robbing bees or pests. A feeder must be ready and filled with 1:1 sugar syrup, as immediate and consistent feeding is necessary to fuel comb building.
Installing Package Bees and Nucleus Colonies
Installing Package Bees
Installation of package bees is best performed toward dusk or in the early evening to minimize flight and maximize the chance of them settling overnight. The first step involves gently misting the bees through the screen with a 1:1 sugar-water solution to calm them. After removing the hive cover, four or five center frames from the deep hive body should be removed to create a void.
The feed can and the queen cage are carefully removed from the package’s top opening. Inspect the queen to ensure she is alive. Remove the cork covering the candy end of her cage to allow workers to chew her free over several days. Secure the queen cage screen-side-up between two of the remaining center frames, ensuring workers can access her.
Invert the package and briskly shake the bees into the void created by the removed frames. Place the empty package box near the hive entrance so any remaining stragglers can walk in. Gently place the removed frames back into the hive body, taking care not to crush the clustered bees, and replace the inner and outer covers.
Installing Nucleus Colonies (Nucs)
Installing a nucleus colony is a gentler process because the bees are already an integrated unit with an established brood nest. Before starting, remove all frames, except for one or two on the outer edges, from the new hive body to make room for the nuc frames. Apply a light puff of smoke to the nuc entrance to calm the bees, which are more defensive than package bees because they are guarding brood.
Carefully transfer the frames one by one from the smaller nuc box directly into the center of the permanent hive body. Maintain the original order of the frames to keep the integrity of the established brood pattern intact. Complete the transfer by sliding the empty frames back into the hive body next to the nuc frames, closing the space, and replacing the covers.
Encouraging Colony Acceptance and Establishment
Following installation, initial management focuses on ensuring the bees accept the new space, accept the queen, and begin drawing comb. The colony must be provided with a continuous supply of 1:1 sugar syrup to stimulate wax production and provide energy. This feeding should continue until the bees have drawn out sufficient comb for the queen to lay eggs and for food storage.
The entrance reducer should remain in place, using the smallest opening, to protect the vulnerable colony from being robbed by stronger neighboring hives. The queen’s status requires close monitoring. The first inspection to check for her release and initial egg-laying typically occurs three to five days after installation. A subsequent inspection around seven to ten days after installation confirms a healthy, uniform brood pattern, indicating the queen has been accepted and the colony is establishing itself.