How to Install a Package of Bees

Installing a package of bees is one of the most practical ways to start a new hive, but it’s not strictly necessary for every beginner—if you can find a local beekeeper selling a nucleus hive (a smaller, established colony), that’s often easier. If you do go the package route, the process is straightforward: you’re essentially transferring thousands of bees from a cage into their new home over the course of a few days. Here’s how to do it right.

Step 1: Prepare the Hive Beforehand

Set up your hive at least a day or two before your package arrives. Position it in a stable location with morning sun exposure and afternoon shade if possible. Assemble all boxes, frames, and foundation (the thin sheet of wax or plastic inside each frame that gives bees a guide for building comb) so there’s no scrambling on installation day. Fill your feeder (a simple sugar-water setup) and place it in the hive or just outside the entrance—bees arriving in a package are stressed and hungry, so food matters immediately.

Install frames in the brood box (the lower box where the queen will lay eggs and the colony will raise young bees) before the bees arrive. Leave the center frames slightly pulled apart to create a small gap where you’ll shake the package bees in. Some beekeepers remove one or two center frames entirely to give bees more room to cluster. Have your smoker ready; smoke is generally not needed for a calm package installation, but having it lit means you can use it quickly if the bees are unexpectedly defensive. Wear your veil and gloves, but keep things calm and deliberate; aggressive handling stresses the bees unnecessarily. If it’s cool (below 60°F), wait for a warmer day; cold bees don’t shake out easily and can chill fatally if exposed too long.

Step 2: Release the Queen Cage

When your package arrives, locate the queen cage—it’s a small wooden or plastic box hanging inside the package. Remove the package from its shipping container and gently lift out the queen cage. Don’t rush this step; take a moment to confirm the queen is alive and moving inside.

The queen cage has a candy plug at one end and is typically sealed with a cork. Remove the cork covering the candy plug to expose it, then hang the cage horizontally between two center frames in the brood box, with the screen side facing the bees so they can touch her through the mesh. The candy plug dissolves slowly over several days as worker bees chew through it, allowing them to gradually accept the queen before she is released. Use a rubber band or a small hook to secure the cage. Some keepers prefer to lay the cage flat on the bottom bars. Either works—what matters is that bees can access the screen and the candy plug is exposed. If the queen is dead (rare but possible), contact your supplier immediately for a replacement.

Step 3: Shake in the Package

Once the queen cage is in place, it’s time to move the worker bees. Remove the feeder can from the package (set it aside—you can recycle it). Hold the package above the hive opening and give it a firm, confident shake. The bees will tumble down into the hive. Shake once or twice more to dislodge as many as possible, then set the package on the ground in front of the hive entrance. Remaining bees will walk in over the next few hours, following the scent of their sisters.

Replace the frames you pulled apart, gently sliding them back into position. The bees will cluster around the queen cage and the brood box. Don’t worry if they look disorganized or agitated—this is normal. Place your feeder filled with 1:1 sugar water (one part white granulated sugar dissolved in one part warm water, which mimics a light nectar flow and encourages comb building) on top of the brood box or use an entrance feeder. Close the hive and leave it alone.

Step 4: Close Up and Leave Them Alone

Resist the urge to open the hive for at least three days. The bees need time to settle, find the queen cage, and begin building comb. Frequent inspections cause stress and can disrupt the delicate process of queen acceptance.

After three to four days, do a quick check: open the hive, locate the queen cage, and look for the candy plug. If it’s been eaten away and bees are calm around the cage, the queen has been released and accepted. If the plug is still intact, give it another day or two. Once the queen is out and laying eggs (you’ll see her moving on frames after about a week), remove the empty cage. Keep feeding 1:1 sugar water for at least two weeks or until the bees have drawn out most of the frames and are bringing in nectar naturally. Monitor the hive weekly after that for signs of disease, pest problems, and adequate food stores.