> Personally, I prefer setting the package in the hive next to 5 > frames and setting the queen cage right there on top of the package > where the bees are exiting (adjacent to feeder-can hole). No > dumping, squashing, or en masse-disoriented flight. The bees > naturally go "up" to exit and so come in contact with q cage right > away to keep her warm. <snip> WARNING: Although this may well often work for an experienced beekeeper in the right climate, at the right time, it will not work all the time. I have heard *many* varied tales of woe from those who have tried this method. And, it is a serious problem where the weather is cool or unsettled. When people do this they often go back to find the bees still in the cage, building comb in the empty space, or that the queen has been abandoned and died. If one has only a few packages to install, and plans to go back and check soon, this type of method may be okay. But, if you have hundreds and don't want to go back until after four days -- and don't want to lose your investment, there is no substitute for direct installation -- namely dump them in, release the queen, put the frame back in, close the lid and go away. Regards Allen W. Allen Dick, Beekeeper VE6CFK RR#1, Swalwell, Alberta Canada T0M 1Y0 Internet:[log in to unmask] & [log in to unmask] Honey. Bees, & Art <http://www.internode.net/~allend/>