Hi, Tom. Many years ago I read in a magazine a package introducing
procedure which sounds very strange but worked like a charm. Wait
until near dusk then remove the queen cage and reinstall the feed can
loosely. Turn the package on its side and then slosh a quart of
tepid water over all the bees. Jar the mass to the bottom of the
cage, remove the can and dump the bees into the hive. Best if half
the frames are set aside temporarily so there is a place for the
bees. They can't fly because their wings are wet. No need for sugar
spray because you are going to be feeding them as soon as they are in
the hive.
Lower the remaining frames into the mass of bees, top with a queen
excluder and an empty hive body. Place the package box on the
excluder - it is simply serving as a rack - add inner cover and
cover. The next day remove the excluder, package and empty box. The
leftover bees ought to have abandoned their home of the previous week
and joined their sisters and queen down below. Dan
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