How to Install a Package of Bees: Step-by-Step (2026 Guide)
The complete installation process for first-time beekeepers — from the moment you pick up your package to the first inspection two weeks later.
🎯 Key Takeaways
- Install the package the same day you pick it up, preferably in late afternoon
- You do NOT release the queen immediately — she stays caged 3–5 days
- Spray bees gently with 1:1 sugar water before installation to keep them calm and fed
- Start feeding syrup immediately and keep feeding until the hive draws comb
- Don't open the hive for at least 7 days after installation
- Expect some bees to leave the hive initially — they'll regroup around the queen
In This Guide
Installing a package of bees is the most nervous 20 minutes you'll have as a new beekeeper. You're dumping 10,000 bees into a wooden box, releasing a queen they've barely met, and hoping they form a functioning colony. Done right, the whole process is surprisingly simple. Done wrong, you lose the queen, half the workforce flies away, or you get stung 15 times.
This guide walks through the complete process — what to do before pickup, the exact installation steps, queen release timing, and how to handle the first week. If you're installing a package in spring 2026, this is the reference.
What Is a Package of Bees?
A package is a screened wooden cage holding roughly 3 pounds of worker bees (about 10,000 bees), a caged queen, and a can of sugar syrup. Packages are produced commercially, typically in the southern US, and shipped to beekeepers nationwide in early spring.
A standard 3-pound package contains:
- ~10,000 worker bees from multiple source hives
- 1 mated queen in a small wooden or plastic cage (she's from a separate breeder, not from the source hives)
- A can of sugar syrup to feed the bees during transport
Important: Package bees don't know each other. The workers weren't the queen's daughters — they're random bees combined with a new queen. This is why you don't release the queen immediately. They need 3–5 days in close proximity to accept her pheromone before she's released.
Package vs nuc: quick comparison
| Package | Nuc | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $140–$200 | $175–$300 |
| Includes brood? | No | Yes, 2–3 frames |
| Time to working hive | 4–6 weeks | 1–2 weeks |
| Queen acceptance | Must be introduced | Already accepted |
| First-year honey likely? | Rarely | Sometimes |
| Beginner difficulty | Higher | Lower |
For first-time beekeepers, a nuc is easier — but packages have their advantages (cheaper, ship nationwide, available when local nucs aren't). See our full comparison.
Before You Pick Up the Package
A successful installation starts before the package even arrives. If your hive isn't ready when you pick up the bees, you're in trouble — packages don't wait well.
One week before pickup
- Assemble and paint your hive. Paint needs 3–5 days to fully cure and off-gas.
- Set up your hive stand. Level in two directions. See our hive stand guide.
- Install the bottom board and one brood box on the stand, with 10 frames of foundation inside.
- Mix 2 gallons of 1:1 sugar syrup. Have a top-box pail feeder ready.
- Fill a spray bottle with 1:1 syrup for the installation day.
Day before pickup
- Do a dry-run through the installation process mentally
- Stage your tools: hive tool, spray bottle, feeder, suit, gloves
- Fill and light-test your smoker fuel (you probably won't need it, but have it ready)
- Watch a video or two of actual installations so the process is familiar
The day of pickup
- Leave early to beat the afternoon heat
- Bring a cardboard box or crate to contain the package in your car
- Prepare for the drive home — cool car, no direct sun on the package
- Plan to install in late afternoon when it's cooler and foragers are less likely to fly off
Pickup Day: What to Expect
At the pickup location
Most package distribution happens at beekeeping clubs, co-op pickups, or directly from regional bee suppliers. Expect a small crowd of nervous new beekeepers, a stack of buzzing packages, and someone checking names off a list.
When you receive your package:
- Inspect the screens for damage or holes
- Look for dead bees piled on the bottom — a small layer (half an inch) is normal; more is a red flag
- Verify the queen cage is present and the queen appears alive
- Confirm you have installation paperwork / receipt for any replacement claims
The drive home
- Keep the package in the back seat, not the trunk
- AC on or windows cracked — bees overheat fast
- Secure so it can't slide or tip
- Don't stop for lunch — get them home
Once home (if you can't install immediately)
- Put the package in a cool, dark garage or basement (60–75°F)
- Spray lightly with 1:1 syrup every 4–6 hours if installing tomorrow
- Keep them in the shipping box — don't open until install time
The Installation (Step-by-Step)
The whole process takes about 20–30 minutes. Work calmly. The bees are in a weird state right now and they'll forgive a lot of fumbling if you don't panic.
Suit up and prep the site
Full bee suit, gloves zipped in, veil tight. Smoker optional — you probably won't need it, but light it if it makes you feel better.
Remove 5 frames from the center of the brood box. Set them aside on a tarp or clean surface. Leave 5 frames in place — the gap becomes your "install zone."
Mist the package with sugar water
Spray 1:1 syrup through the screens — light mist, not soaking. The bees gorge on the syrup, which calms them and reduces flying during the transfer. Do both sides of the package.
Wait 30 seconds for them to ingest. Repeat once more.
Remove the package cover and syrup can
Using your hive tool, pry off the wooden cover on top of the package. Set aside.
The syrup can is wedged in the top opening. Rock it back and forth gently, lift it out. Set aside — bees will cluster on it, that's fine.
You'll now see the queen cage hanging from a metal strap or wire. Lift the cage out carefully.
Examine and position the queen cage
Check that the queen is alive. She's usually visible through the mesh, often with 3–8 attendant worker bees. If she's dead, stop the installation, brush the bees back into the package, and contact the supplier for a replacement queen (most will send one within days).
The queen cage has a cork or candy plug at one end. There are two approaches here:
- Candy release (recommended): Remove the cork from the CANDY end only. The bees will eat through the candy over 3–5 days, releasing her gradually. This is the safer option for beginners.
- Direct release (risky): Some beekeepers release the queen directly if they can verify the workers accept her. Too risky for beginners — skip it.
Hang the queen cage between two frames
Using the metal strap attached to the cage, hang the queen cage between frames 4 and 5 (center of the brood box), with the screen facing outward so workers can feed her through it. The candy plug should face upward so dead attendants don't block it.
Secure the strap under the top bar of a frame so the cage doesn't fall.
Pour or shake the bees into the hive
Here's the dramatic part. Pick up the package, invert it over the open hive, and gently shake. Most of the bees will tumble out into the gap between the frames. Give the package a firm thump on the top edge of the hive to dislodge clinging bees. Some bees will fly — that's OK. Most will land on the hive or on you.
Don't try to get every single bee out. When the package is 90% empty, set it aside (upside down with the opening facing the hive) so remaining bees can fly to the queen's scent.
Replace the frames
Gently slide the 5 removed frames back into the hive, one at a time. Don't crush bees — bees will move out of the way if you give them a second. Don't push frames all the way down yet — lower them slowly so bees can climb up and out.
Once all frames are in place and positioned correctly, close the gap fully.
Add the feeder and close up
Place the inner cover over the brood box with the oval hole open. Place your pail feeder on the inner cover, centered over the oval hole. Put an empty super around the feeder for weather protection. Place the outer cover on top.
Reduce the entrance with an entrance reducer to its smallest setting (about 1 inch) to prevent robbing.
Leave them alone
Walk away. Seriously. The more you do right now, the worse you make it. The bees will regroup around the queen scent, start exploring, and begin building comb.
Watch the entrance for the next hour. Bees flying in orientation patterns (hovering facing the hive) means they're memorizing the location — a very good sign.
Queen Release: When and How
The queen cage sits in the hive for 3–7 days before release. Here's how that plays out:
Day 3–5 after installation
Open the hive briefly and check the queen cage. Usually the candy has been eaten through and the queen has been released naturally. If that's the case, don't look for her — close up and leave.
If she's still caged on day 5, the candy plug might be too hard or the workers haven't eaten through. Help them by:
- Using a small nail or wire to widen the candy exit hole slightly
- OR manually releasing her over the open hive (if she looks active and workers are clinging to the cage amicably)
Signs the queen has been accepted
- Workers clinging calmly to the cage, feeding through screen
- No piled dead bees beneath the cage
- The cage itself feels "welcomed" — bees aren't biting at the screen aggressively
Signs of queen rejection
- Pile of dead bees in the bottom of the cage
- Bees "balling" the cage — forming a tight ball trying to kill her through the mesh
- Excessive hostility at the cage
If you see rejection signs, leave her caged longer (another 2–3 days) and recheck. Rarely, a queen gets killed despite all precautions — in that case, you'll need to order a replacement.
The First Week After Installation
Day 1–2
- Don't open the hive — just watch
- Confirm entrance activity: bees flying in and out, pollen loads coming back by day 2
- Keep the feeder full — they're drinking syrup fast
Day 3–5
- First quick peek: check queen cage (as described above)
- DO NOT pull frames, don't look for the queen
- Confirm bees are building comb on foundation — you should see fresh white wax
Day 7–10
- First real inspection. Now you can pull a few frames.
- Confirm eggs (the queen has started laying — tiny rice grains in cells)
- Check comb-drawing progress — should cover 3–5 frames by now
- Remove the empty queen cage
- Refill feeder
Day 14
- Second inspection. Looking for capped brood from the queen's first laying cycle.
- Full 10-frame buildup is the goal over the next 3–4 weeks.
See our complete first-week guide for detailed day-by-day expectations.
Common Problems and Fixes
Half the bees flew away
Some flying off after installation is normal. Watch overnight — bees usually return to the queen's scent by morning. If the cluster is permanently thin after 24 hours, your queen may be absent or rejected.
Queen is dead in the cage
Don't proceed with a dead queen. Contact your supplier immediately. Most honor free replacement for a dead-on-arrival queen within a few days of pickup. Install the workers anyway — they'll survive until the replacement arrives.
The bees aren't drawing comb
Check feeder — empty? Refill. Cold snap? Reduce the entrance to conserve heat. Still no comb by day 10? Consider adding a second package or combining with another colony.
Ants are in the feeder
Set each hive stand leg in an ant moat (small tray of water). Ants can't cross water. This solves the problem permanently.
Bees are piling up dead on the ground
A few dead bees daily is normal (older bees in the package were at end of life). Dozens per day for multiple days is a red flag for disease, pesticide exposure, or queen failure. Contact a local beekeeper for help diagnosing.
The hive has been robbed
Spring is peak robbing season. If you see aggressive non-hive bees fighting at the entrance, reduce the entrance immediately, remove any open feed or spilled syrup, and consider installing a robbing screen for a few weeks.
Complete beginner package-install bundle
If you're buying your first package, the smartest move is a complete beehive starter kit that includes boxes, frames, foundation, bottom board, inner cover, outer cover, and usually the basic tools. Piecing this together from individual sources takes 2–3 weeks and costs more. One click, done.
Check Price on Amazon →Everything You Need for Installation Day
- Complete hive starter kit — ~$200–$300
- Full ventilated bee suit — ~$100
- Stainless smoker + fuel — ~$35
- J-hook hive tool — ~$15
- Spray bottle (for sugar water) — ~$6
- Top-box pail feeder — ~$20
- 25 lb bag cane sugar — ~$18
- Entrance reducer — ~$10
- Ant moats (4-pack) — ~$15
- Robbing screen — ~$25
The First-Year Mindset
Here's what separates successful package installs from failed ones: restraint. New beekeepers open the hive constantly during the first month, worried about everything. That worry kills colonies. The bees know what they're doing. Give them a queen they can release on their own schedule, keep syrup in the feeder, reduce the entrance, and otherwise leave them alone for two weeks.
Come back on day 10 for a real inspection. By then, you'll have eggs, some capped brood, 3–5 frames of drawn comb, and a functioning colony. That's the goal.