Starting from a Package

Installing a bee package is one of the simplest ways to start a Primal Bee hive. There are no old frames to deal with — just bees and a queen in a screened box.

Before You Begin

What you'll need:

• Your bee package (typically 3 lbs of bees + a caged queen)
• Wired wax or plastic foundation in your Primal Bee nest frames
• PPE (gloves, suit, etc.)
• Smoker and hive tool
• Spray bottle with light sugar water
• Dense sugar syrup for feeding (4 parts sugar to 1 part water)

Timing:

Spring is ideal. You can install a package any time the temperature stays above 50°F (10°C), but earlier in the season gives the colony more time to build up before winter. Pick a calm, warm day — early morning or late afternoon works best.

Step 1: Prepare Your Primal Bee Nest

Make sure your nest frames are ready with wire-embedded wax foundation or plastic foundation.

Set up seven Primal Bee nest frames with foundation. Place the follower board in the center with three nest frames on one side (active nest) and four on the other side (storage for growth). Temporarily remove the 3 frames from the active side to give yourself space to install the bees.

Install the bottom board screen, varroa tray, and attach entrance reducers with holes facing outward.

Step 2: Prepare the Bees

Give the package a light mist with sugar water through the screen. This calms the bees and keeps them from flying as much during installation.

Step 3: Install the Bees

Remove the feeder can from the package. Remove the queen cage and set it aside safely.

Shake or pour the bees directly from the package box into the open space on the 3-frame side of the nest. A firm shake or two gets most of them out. Don't worry about getting every single bee — set the open package near the hive entrance and the stragglers will find their way in through sensing queen and worker orientation pheromones.

Step 4: Introduce the Queen

Package queens are new to the colony — they need time to acclimate.

Check the queen cage: it should have a candy plug on one end. If there's a cork instead, remove the cork and replace it with the candy plug (or poke a small hole in the candy end). Hang or wedge the queen cage between two frames near the center of the active nest area, with the screen side facing down so workers can access the candy plug.

Over 3-7 days, the worker bees will chew through the candy to reach her. Initially, they might act aggressively toward the cage, but by the time they eat through that candy, they've acclimated to her scent and typically accept her as their queen.

Step 5: Replace the Frames and Close Up

Carefully reinsert the frames you removed. Take your time — you don't want to crush bees.

Step 6: Configure the Nest

The bees start on the 3-frame side — this is their active nest area. Once bees are using 75-100% of the frames they have access to and brood comb is building, move the follower board one frame at a time. Keep doing this until they're using all available space.

Step 7: Feed

Feed immediately with dense sugar syrup (4 parts sugar to 1 part water) through the feeder lid. The high sugar concentration stimulates the bees to quickly draw new comb on the foundation so the queen can start laying. Continue feeding until the colony has established comb on most of their frames and natural forage is available.

Post-Installation Care

Check after 5-7 days to confirm the queen has been released from her cage. If she hasn't, you can carefully release her directly onto the frames.

After 15 days, look for fresh brood (capped brood, larvae, or eggs). If you see any of these, close up — the queen is doing her job.

Can't find the queen? Watch the entrance. Bees flying in with bright yellow pollen baskets on their back legs means they're feeding larvae. Pollen baskets = brood = working queen.

For detailed monitoring guidance, see the Transferring from an Existing Hive guide in this section.