You've done your beekeeping homework.
You've chosen a site for your beehive where it won't be
knocked down in a strong wind, or be bothered by pets
and humans. You've purchased all the right equipment and
are comfortable using it. You've tried on all your
beekeeping gear and are comfortable that it fits you
properly and are confident that you are reasonably
protected from bee stings. During the cold winter months
you placed an order for your bees and were notified that
your bees were successfully shipped. Now you have gotten
the call from the post office where a frazzled postal
worker has politely asked you to please come and remove
your package of angry stinging insects from their work
environment.
You've picked up your bees and noted that other then a
few dead ones at the bottom of the container (you should
really be prepared for a few to not survive the
stressful travel routine they have been asked to endure)
the bees look healthy. Now all you have to do is
transfer the new bees from the screen container they
were shipped in to the hive you have set up for them.
Have your smoker handy when you are ready to transfer
your new bees from their shipping container to the hive.
Also make sure you have your beehive gear on.
You should notice a small container within the bee's
shipping container. This small container is where your
new queen is being kept. The top of her personal
shipping container is covered with a cork. Remove the
cork and you will see a second cap that is made out of
sugar.
Hang the queen's container in your hive. Your going to
want to put it in between the two frames that are in the
center of your newly constructed hive. Pierce the top of
the candy top with a nail. The worker bees will have an
easier time freeing the queen if there is already a
small hole in the sugar barrier. When using the nail be
very careful that you do not inadvertently stab the
queen. You won't be able to purchase a replacement queen
after the winter months. Once the workers have chewed
through the sugar barrier the queen will be able to
escape into the hive.
Once you have the queen in the hive use your smoker and
place a puff of smoke into the shipping package. Gently
shake the bee's shipping container, gently allowing the
bees to spill out of the container and into the hive.
When you are no longer able to coax any bees out of the
container, set the container down near the hive, any
bees that are still in it will eventually find their way
out of the container and into the hive. Make sure you
inset a feeder filled with a simple sugar recipe into
the hive.
Leave your new bees alone for a week. During this week
the bees will become acclimated with their new home. The
queen will start laying eggs and the bees will start to
make honey.
Bees like to be transferred from their shipping
container to the hive either early in the morning or
late evening.