Bee Packages from New Zealand 2024

2024 – In March and April wil will be selling 1 kg Bee Packages from New Zealand.

*Pre-ordering is required.

They include a mated Queen that is with the bees, in a cage.

We will ask for a deposit after Christmas and then full payment 10 days prior to pick up.

Price to be determined at a later date.

IMPORTANT: There are NO Refunds on Deposits. We need firm commitments so we know how many to import.  HOWEVER, all Money will be returned if any unforeseen circumstances prevent the arrival of the bees. Queens will be replaced, free of charge, if they are dead on arrival.

Bee Packages for March 2024

Bee Packages for March 2024

Please use this form to Reserve New Zealand Bee Packages for 2024
A $50 deposit, per package, will be required after Christmas.
Full payment will be due 10 days prior to pick up. (no tax)
Cash, Debit, Credit Card or E-transfer. The details will be emailed to you.

First and Last
Two Delivery Date Options: Which do you Prefer?
Where do you live?
We will contact you by email to confirm receipt of your order.

 

 

How to Install a Bee Package that comes in a box

You Tube Videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70ODILM3qcM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVz26rW7hjY


About New Zealand Bees – coming in 2024

Packaged bees arrive from our friends at Kintail Honey in New Zealand

Should I feed my packaged bees once they are installed?

Sugar Syrup. Prepare a sugar syrup solution of 1:1 sugar-water before the package is installed.

Feeding fumagillin medicated syrup to newly installed packages is highly recommended

Unless you install your packages on drawn combs containing sufficient honey and pollen (taken from existing colonies or from storage), you should plan to feed the bees immediately upon installation and continue feeding them until they are able to fend for themselves. This is critically important when installing packages on foundation.

 Getting Ready for Package Arrival

Apiary Site Selection. A sunny, wind-protected and well drained location should be selected. Sunlight will warm the colony and stimulate foraging.

Install an entrance reducer for the colony to conserve heat and prevent robbing.

When many colonies are being established from packages, hives must be temporarily closed completely by stuffing grass in the entrance to prevent robbing. The grass can be replaced with an entrance reducer after the bees have settled.

Beehive equipment including bottom board, hive body, inner cover and hive lid should be ready before packages arrive.

Preparation of the brood chamber. Nine or ten frames are used in the brood chamber. When using ten, start with nine frames when the package is installed, and add the tenth frame one week later. Use frames with honey and pollen stores when available. If the frames are numbered 1 to 9, then frames 1, 2, 8, and 9 should contain honey, while 3 and 7 should have pollen. The central frames 4, 5, and 6 should be about 75% free of honey and pollen to provide room for brood development. Some dead brood from the previous year in the centre frames is of no concern because the bees will quickly clean them out.

How to Make Sugar Syrup for Package Bees

A one-to-one mixture of sugar and water — measured either by weight or by volume — provides the energy your bees need to stimulate brood rearing and start drawing out foundation.

To make the sugar syrup, heat the mixture gently until all of the sugar is dissolved. Remove the syrup from the heat and let it cool to room temperature. Once it has cooled, we suggest adding fumagilin-B to control Nosema and Honey-B-Healthy  or HIVE Alive to make the sugar syrup more attractive to the bees and to improve their gut health.

Suggestions for Sugar Syrup

  • Ratio 1:1 white sugar dissolved in water
  • Fumagilin-B to prevent nosema as directed on package
  • Honey-B-Healthy  or Hive Alive as a health supplement. Essential oils for good gut health.