How To Install a Package of Honey Bees, Setting up your first hive step by step. 

This is the link to the hive body side mount Frame Holder, it is by far the very best frame holder I own - tell them I sent you and you'll pay the same as everyone else! littlemulebee.com/collections/frame-holder

I've been immersing myself in bee keeping videos. I really got a lot from this one. Can't wait to get started. 💞 🐝 Thank You.

I love the landing board shots and all of the activity. Thanks.

Your Saskatraz Package bees were so much fatter than mine! I had so many more dead at the bottom of the package, and they had no comb built in the package. My queen was dead in the cage (Bee Maniacs replaced her the next morning at no charge to me - the replacement queen was also super skinny), and yeah, that syrup can was empty. I have package bee envy! I can't wait to check on the replacement queen in my first hive inspection this weekend. At least my workers have visibly plumped up. Thank you for making this video!

Nice Fred. Two packages of Saskatraz.

I love your videos! I've been subscribed for quite awhile now but I don't comment enough. This is a fantastic video. You're doing a great job. I really hope to keep bees one day.

I just uploaded my package hive status on RU-vid …similar to my first nuc some 10 years ago…and is progressing almost as well…really excited it’s going well.

I'm glad you use Canadian breed Homeybees

Hi Fred. I'm a beekeeper-in-waiting - just spending a lot of time educating myself. Plus its winter here in Sydney, Australia, so swarms & commerical colonies are unavailable right now. I know the north American bee situation is very different from down here but I'm finding there is an enormous amount of value to be had by listening and watching patiently through your videos, which are exceptionally good and fascinating in and of themselves, even if I wasn't planning to start beekeeping. So thanks for the great work you are sharing via this channel.

Great video Frederick. I see that the bees lost in the hail storm have been happily replaced. Cant wait to learn more about these bees! Always learn things here!

those flow hives look really nice, very attractive additions to your beeyard.

Always very informative, thanks for sharing your knowledge. :)

Great footage and very informative. I love your videos.

Thanks for another great video!

At first glance of some other videos the plastic cage had me more than a little concerned, but after having my last shipment of bees never arrive due to package damage and bees released. This certainly will not happen with the plastic bee bus shipping container. I will start asking my bee senders if they offer the plastic shipping container as I would pay a small premium for this assurance for me and the Postal Service.

Another great video. Wish I could spend some times with my bees this weekend but working 6a-6p all weekend.

First time watching you and loved the info. Australia and a new year 7 months, 2 hives

Thanks for the videos.

So we’ll done. Thank you! My daughter and her man are installing their first hive with bees in an hour and I should have studied this earlier cuz there is so much to know and do. I should relax, I know. My daughter is no dummy (😳 gulp…).

Excellent video will watch it many times Iam sure. We get our Bee next week. Iam hoping to get an online class early next week if not this weekend.

YESSSS!!!!! The perfect video to watch on a sunday afternoon thank you for your excellent work mr dunn I"m not a newbee but always manage to learn new things here!!! keep them coming! i particularly liked the recap at the end becuase i don't know anyting about the saskatraz bees?

thank you very informative. newbie here.

Fred, I noticed that you fed Sugar Water, but no Pollen Patties at this point. I am going through a half pound pollen patty per hive per week and I am having great weather (mid 80's this weekend) for the past two weeks. My hives are bringing in a lot of pollen in the morning hours but it must be mostly nectar and water in the afternoon because their pollen baskets are empty. I was wondering why you are not feeding pollen patties at this stage to help them feed brood and produce royal jelly for the queen, workers, and hatching eggs into brood?

I like your talks I could listen all day

Could you create some kind of index of your videos. For example, I would like to see the next video documenting the progress of the new hives you just put packages into. I had a bit of trouble spotting which videos showed that footage from their titles. Beginning beekeeper, enjoyed your clear explanation sharing your knowledge.

TOP NOTCH DECORATIONS !!! Where do I get some,those are AWESOME, thanks for sharing

Another great video! Update on my aggressive Italians I spoke of earlier. Set Have A Heart trap out near the bee hives, caught 4 possums, 1 raccoon, 3 feral cats in 12 days. 1 or several of these were messing with the bees, as the bees are almost as gentle as before and improving gradually.

Thanks for testing the slatted racks. I’m very curious how they compare in how they draw the comb and how deep she lays.

I have ordered a package of Saskatraz Bees. Did you do a series on this bee? I would like to know more about how to manage them. I started with a VSH Nuc last spring. Just discovered that they didn't survive, I think it was due to moisture.

Hey Fred, I'm slowly getting through all your older vids and learning something each time so thanks again! In this one you mentioned that some lines of alfalfa are difficult for bees to get at the nectar or pollen, not sure which. This is of particular interest to me as my 3 hives are set up at a nearby alfalfa farm. Which alfalfa is the culprit? It's my first year and they seem to be doing great but that may be for other reasons such as an old abandoned apple orchard and lots of wild strawberries. Thanks for the help :)

Thank you, Fred. This video was very enjoyable and informative. That frame hanger you used looked very nice. Do you have a link for that?

Great tutorial/demonstration. With drones from Weaaver & Saskatraz colonies frequenting you local drone congregtion areas, are you hopeful of a hybrid between the strains, with the gentleness & mite resistance of the Weaver and the hardiness of the Saskatraz? I guess it would be great if it happened that way around, not the opposite! Of curse, you could most likely end up with some of each, and then by selection get the best of both lines. Roll on the Dunn line of mite resistant, gentle, productive and hardy bees!

Thank you!! I'm brand new to bee keeping and your videos are so interesting and helpful 🐝❤️🐝❤️🐝❤️🐝

Thanks again for a great video and lots of helpful information. After you get the hive established, how do you get the bees to use the flow frames to store honey? They sealed all the cells last fall but didn't store any honey in them. This spring they didn't want to fill them either. Since it's still early I'm hoping to get some flow honey ;)

Very fine craftsmanship Fred! What did you use to stain your Mann Lake deep?

You mentioned adding Morton's Natural Sea Salt to bee water, but I can't figure out which video that was in. Can you tell me what the salt to water ration is? thanks!

When using your Rapid Feeder which blocks the upper vent hole in the inner cover... is it necessary to create other holes to allow for proper ventilation of the hive? If so would you screen them off? Thanks

Do you sell those 2" shims? They seem hard to find--I only see one online. I'd make one but dont' have a shop. Thanks always Frederick for all the lessons.

Thank you for the detail you went through in the installs. The little things you mentioned i haven't seen on others videos. Your one comment on the bee weaver strain caught my attention. It was about the less honey production. Is there that much difference between the different strains of bees? Also if i am planning to simply uses any honey for personal use and family and friends would the differences matter? Watching the activity on the landing boards is fascinating so im gonna have to set viewing seats also.

This was outstsnding. I live in Northern Ca 45 miles west of Truckee Ca. And me and a friend are planning on buying the Flow Hive. Who should we buy the queen bee from?

What do you use on your boxes to seal treat them? They look very natural and beautiful.

There are so many fortunate like me to benefit from your selfless expertise that you share, I not only look forward to learning from you, but wonder at how you have the time to capture and share your activities. And yet, I'm going to ask about something you mentioned last season - did you say you were going to show us how you made a paper wasp nest box? (Sorry if you already did and I missed it). Maybe a winter project?

Thanks for another excellent video. Fred you mention then that you were not interested on having more than 10 hives and would be giving away equipment and hives if you go over. If this still the case I would love to have to have that surplus of yours for myself and other new beekeepers I'm luring into this awesome art.

Thank you again for another great video. Over several videos you share your thoughts on Acorn bee frames ... as with everything I’ve bought on your recommendation, they are excellent. The common recommendation is that brood frames be replaced periodically. When discussing Acorn frames, I was wondering if you can clarify wether the frames themselves can be reused; they seem like they can last decades. If they can be reused (e.g., an absence of brood deceases) how does one clean them? Would letting wax months be a an easy way of having nature recycle the wax? Thanks for your thoughts.

Absolutely tremendous Fred. Thank you so much for your effort. As a brand new beekeeper starting in the southern hemisphere spring this year, I can't convey to you how invaluable this was. With my brand new equipment preparing for the coming spring, I have ordered those Ceracell blue feeders. Could you advise how you would put together a hive if you were using these? I don't know if I need extra spacers or inner covers as well. Also, you had mentioned about keeping them clean, what would you do about that if you were using this feeder, or is this reason enough for you _not_ to use this feeder design? Many thanks in advance. All my best to you, MK.

I noticed you left the hive entrance open when you installed the package and allowed the stragglers to find their way out of the cage. Around here folks generally plug the entrance with grass for a couple of days otherwise the bees might abscond. Is there a way to tell whether I can leave my hive open? Been beekeeping for several years but only off and on. Trying Saskatraz for the first time this year.

Am here Mr.Dunn 🇱🇨👍🔥🔥🔥

I wanted to ask... usually I do nucs not bee packages. But this year, I thought I'd try packages so I could make sure I knew how to do them, even though I like nucs better. Some bee package sellers tell you to install the packages right before dark (at dusk). I'm curious how things turn out usually in comparing the differences of installing a package at dusk compared to just putting them in there during the day? Thanks.

Hey Fred or Frederick if you prefer I love your artwork on the front of your hives. I’m getting ready to order my first flow system and I would like to know if you offer that artwork to other beekeepers? Loved your videos.

Hi, I just watched your video. I live in Montgomery County, PA. Just ordered my first 2 packages of bees( Italian), arriving in April. I'm just learning about Saskatraz bees. In this video, you mentioned the Saskatraz bees aren't the best choice for new bee keepers. Why is that? Also, what kind of Essential oil/brand do you use for your sugar water mix? Thank you.

Do you have another side frame holder you would recommend since the one that you posted link for went out of business?

Great video, have you not come across any hot B Weaver queens? Most of the folks that know here in Texas have had issues with them and are using the italian x Buckfast hybrids that are coming from Georgia.

Fred where did you get your bees from that they sent them to you, and was it a lot more expensive, thank you love your videos

Question. My highly anticipated day of getting and installing a nuc of bees came. My enthusiasm was dulled a bit the next day, my neighbor loads a fourwheeler with a tank of Roundup to spray dandelions on his and another neighbors property. 1. Is roundup bad for bees? 2. Is there anyway to keep bees from flying the day my neighbors are spraying? 3. How would you approach this kind of situation? Looked into a bit, roundup for laws isn't glyphosate its a combo of 4 herbicides : MCPA , Quinclorac, Dicamba, Sulfentrazone. Big thanks for your videos, really helps a new beekeeper like me out.

what if any different behaviour are you expecting from any F1 colonies in the future? Are you planning to try those F1 queens or will you continue to import queens from both lines of bees?

Love your videos.....I'm curious to know how hot the aluminum strip at the entrance to the hive will get under a full sun.....I'm guessing hot enough to burn one's finger.

Hi Fred. I have an issue with bees going into my smoker even when it's warm. Had a second swarm here and they clustered on and in smoker any ideas. The only fuel I have used is shredded paper and pine shavings pet Grade.

Hello Frederick, your Bee Videos are the best, that being said have you tried the Hogg Half-comb system of cassettes for harvesting comb filled with honey in a clear cassette? If so please let me know, I am seriously considering trying it.

I’m a second year keeper. Lost my first year but I got a ton of honey so not all bad. I was told it was from mites that I lost them. Not sure why cause I did use formic pads every 2 months. Mayb not perfectly every 2 months but no more than 2 weeks late. Anyhow, in my new bee package I placed an old comb that was filled with honey instead of an old empty comb. How bad was that? Can I switch that now? Its been only one day so far. Also I didnt uncork her because I didnt get that info. Should I open up after just 1 day and switch the comb and uncork?

Thank you for a new amazing video I live in Egypt and bee keeping is very popular here more than you could imagine we have sugarcane plantation in Egypt in abundance (((My Question is can we use the sugarcane juice instead of the 1:1 sugar syrup and would it be OK to add a very small amount of orange juice to prevent the juice from getting dark by oxidation????)))))) Please I cannot wait to have your reply for this odd question and I will try it in my flow hive 2 when it arrive

FRED, THANKS SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO. I'M GOING TO START MY NEW COLONY IN APRIL AND SO THIS IS VERY HELPFUL. ONE QUESTION: I NOTICED YOU PUT ON NITRILE GLOVES DURING THE INSTALL. PLEASE EXPLAIN HOW THEY COMPARE TO THE BEE GLOVES. ARE THEY AS STING RESISTANT?

Hi Fred... wonderful Qn: Why no locator pins on bottom of boxes to ensure correct initial alignment? Was at Princeton UMI campus ... wet, cold and miserable. NYNY, Niagara Falls same. Makes me appreciate SoCal 🤔😊🍺🍺🍺

I’ve seen some wasps flying around one of my hives that’s a recent split. should I bee concerned?

So in this video you mentioned putting syrup on for packages. Since this video, Hive Alive has come into production, could that be used in place of syrup for packages?

How long do you feed the new bees the sugar water after putting them in the hive with ALL NEW equipment. ? . I am really enjoying all your video’s

Can swarms be collected an combined with other hives to strengthen them? I recall that you’ve discussed swarms in the past (an August swarm, I believe), but I don’t remember if this question was ever brought up or the topic addressed. Thanks!

Hi Do you sell bee items with your pyrography on them? Your artwork is so beautiful.

Hi Frederick, I'm new to beekeeping since a coworker just recently introduced me to the flow hive and your videos. I've watched just about every bee video you've done up through faq16 and they're very helpful. I'm grateful for all the shared information and experience. I've got a few questions to throw in the ring. 1. Can the bees access the bottom of the flow frames (not the comb) to clean up the residual honey after you are done extracting and put the cap back on? Or do you leave the cap off so they can crawl in from behind the hive to clean up in there? 2. You've mentioned robber bees, wasps and other invaders flying straight in to the hive and the importance of the guard bees. For an upper circular entrance with closer access to the top super (or a feeder, etc) would there be an any advantage to install a small landing board outside of the circular entrance? Would guard bees defend from an upper entrance landing board before pests made their way in, or do they mostly just care about the queen and brood at the bottom board? 3. In a previous video you mentioned a gabeled roof offering some rain protection and shade until the supers get stacked up. Would installing a slanted roof about a foot or so above the landing board be of any advantage for keeping rain out of the entrance, or snow from accumulating on the entrance? If I've got a slatted rack and a screened bottom over a tray would it even matter? 4. Behind your chair in the videos it appears to be a brood box on the bottom that has a side panel over a window like the flow super. What are your thoughts about me installing side windows on the brood box (like the flow super) to inspect the outer frames and potentially cause less disruption of the hive? Would those outer sides of those two frames provide enough information to lessen how often I opened the hive for inspections anyway? Are those just going to be honey stores? If the glass was silicone sealed or propolized and there was a wooden panel, like the flow super, do you think there would be any problems with insulation in winters like yours? 5. Similar to the above question, how about a window on my medium super (top box in winter) to peer inside between the frames during winter to get an idea how far up the stores the cluster has migrated. Do you believe insulation would be an issue with sealed glass and wooden panel door? A thermal camera is probably out of reach. Thanks for the videos, and if you're able to get to any of my questions thank you for that as well.

I am sure you talk about this in a later video, but you don't need the spacer on a Flow 7 if you use the 8" rapid round instead of the 10". The 8" rapid round holds 1qt of liquid.

Hi Fred, I'm wondering the thickness of your spacer to accommodate the rapid round feeder for the Flow Hive gabled roof. Also, is there any specific reason you prefer the Guardian Bee suit over the Flow Hive suit? The latter is less expensive and comes with gloves and a hive tool. Your thoughts? Many thanks!

Ha Mr Dunn This was another great video. The boxes they shipped them in were cool. I Get my bee weaver queens next week I have been trying to call them they do not answer the phone to well. When they ship them do they send u a tracking number a email or something, I am asking u is because u buy from them all the time. thanks again have a wonderful weekend

Did you use queen excluders on these. I can’t decide if I should use one. Some say bees are reluctant to go up past it to find the feeder. Others insist it’s best to use queen excluder.

Fred, do roses add any resources for the bees?

If I am starting a new hive does it need to have at least 1 frame of established cone?

what are your thoughts on using a queen cell from an aggressive hive to make a nuke?

When do you stop feeding sugar syrup to these new colonies? How frequently to you refill the rapid round feeder? Do you clean the feeder each time you refill?

Has there been any crossing of Weavers with Saskatraz?

I have 4 nucs coming in a week. How far apart should I set up the hives? Should I be concerned about them migrating to a different hive?

On the open frames insert a started srip of foundation.

Awesome video, how. Much were your new packages?

Can you mix the bees to get the different trates

Where do you purchase the Rapid Round Feeder?

Fred, I’m receiving two packages of Saskatraz bees tomorrow from Mann Lake. The members of my local bee club told me to instal the packages of bees just before sunset so they don’t abscond immediately. They explained that you want to install in the evening so they stay in the hive overnight. Would it be a bad idea to install around noon. I work afternoon/evenings and won’t be around during the time suggested by my club. The weather is expected to be 55-60 degrees and partly cloudy around noon tomorrow. Best, Garrett

How long after the install do you treat for mites

Mr Fred, i got some new boxes and painted them with a water based impregnating oil to protect against water and then i painted with paint, some colors stayed on but some paint colors wouldnt stick, because of the impregnating oil i am sure, what is bee safe that i could put over my paint so it doesnt all wash away in the next rain

do you think that they need to give more feed in those travelling cages? its seems risky that they were already empty on arrival!

Did you have a link for the stainless frame rest? Thanks

How do you get the beeweaver bees? I checked their website and they say they don't ship their packages or nucs ☹️. I live in MA

🏆🏆🏆🏆

When are you going to get decent weather? My packages were installed 1 month ago today. One hive has at least 6 frames of drawn comb ( started with Pierco double-waxed deep plastic frames) and the other is not quite as far along - probably 4-5 good frames. Both have a lot of hatched brood, capped brood, larvae, etc. At what point do I start thinking about adding a medium box above? 8 frames of drawn comb? In TN we're in the middle of the Spring honey flow, but I'm still feeding. My math says it takes 3 weeks to hatch a bee, and they spend 3 weeks in the hive as nurse bees, so it'll be a good 6 weeks from egg to new bees foraging. By that time many of the bees from the packages will have died, so I figure at least 2 months of feeding.

I have the same bees 2021

I was wondering where you were.. :)

i've seen video and heard of people treating mites with a mineral oil fog instead of acid fog. they just shoot the heated mineral oil right through the entrance for a couple of seconds. can you confirm or deny that this is a functional way of mite control?

I have a chicken question... Why do hens squawk a lot after they lay an egg? It's like they have to announce to every one of their new arrival. I would think in the Asian jungle where chickens came from, advertising new eggs would be counter productive as it might attract predators.

Should you release your bees in the morning or evening? Does it matter?

I love this, very informative. I hate the sound of the spritz bottle though, no fault of yours and not being critical. But... if doing other vids with the bottle, it would be wonderful to use a bottle that is not making that fingernail-on -chalkboard kind of nerve wrecking sound. Thank you Fred, I do love your videos. Hope I am not too petty (: John

Fred - I've mentioned before, I installed 2 packaged a month ago. They're from the same local bee supplier. My question is, one package seems much more docile than the other - If' I go into the hive, they don't need much smoke, they don't rise out of the hive, and they're not buzzing wildly. The other one is the only one I've gotten stung from, and it's been almost every time I've been in that hive. They are just more...active. Now, I don't think they're "africanized" or anything like that. If I step away about 10', if the most aggressive stop following me, then I can step back in and finish. But why the personality difference between the colonies?

Where did you say you ordered those Saskatraz bees?

FYI little mule bee who sold that frame rack is closed due to COVID-19

Queen excluderers wear out the worker bees faster.