The Bees are in the Hive!

Since it was so cold when we got the bees on Sunday, we had to wait a day to put them in their hive.  We sprayed them with sugar water to make them happy first.  Here is my husband Gene in his bee suit ready to get started.

It's not as easy as you might think.  To try and get 10,000 to 12,000 bees in that little box was interesting.  Needless to say I stayed back (since I don't have a suit) and took pictures (believe me I was ready to run if needed)!!  Several of them decided to hang out on Gene's suit!!  They were all over him.

Then comes the Queen.  She arrives in her own special little box with a few of her drones (will just call them servants).  They are supposed to help her eat the candy plug on the other side to get her out among her subjects so she can tell them what to do like any good Queen would do!!  We will check back in a couple days to make sure she made it out.  If not we will need to intervene and get her out.  Otherwise, the whole swarm could just fly away!!  I'm not sure you can see her but she's about twice the size of the others (big enough to boss everyone around).

And finally, here is the hive completed.  We needed to put something heavy on the top so that the raccoons or other critters won't break in.  Tonight Buddy (our lab) went up to the hive and took off the other way.  He didn't get stung, but he knew enough that he shouldn't be around there. 

I'll be back in a couple days to let you know how the Queen's subjects did in helping her escape her little box!!