What is a bee package

Starting to engage in beekeeping, a beginner, as a rule, pre-examines all the necessary information on this subject, and the most important question that interests him is where and how you can purchase honey insects. To date, there are several good solutions to this problem - this is the purchase of bee packages, digging or bee families. These methods are significantly different from each other, but, as experienced beekeepers suggest, it is the bee packages that occupy a leading position in their advantages in this list. We offer in this topic to consider in more detail what a bee package is, what are its advantages and what kinds of this device can be found on the domestic market.

  • Description and types
    • Cellular (frame)
    • Offset (frameless)
  • Pchelosemya and pchelopaket: the difference
  • How to transplant bees from the package to the hive
    • Out of cell
    • Out ofless
  • Features and advantages of use

Description and types

Bee package - this is a composition of bees selected from different families, which will be sold in the future. In order to form it correctly, experts select several insects and certain parts of the combs and food, then all this is carefully transferred to specialized boxes specially created for bee packages.

Varieties of these boxes are cellular and non-cellular. In simple words - this is the formation of the basis of the future honey-bearing family.

Did you know? Beekeeping is one of the oldest occupations of humanity. This activity was widespread in ancient Egypt - there they were accustomed to construct hives from baked clay, and also from wicker rods plastered with clay. Also, the ancient Egyptians were engaged in the transport of bees, which was produced on the Nile river in boats.

Cellular (frame)

To date, the cellular bee package is the most popular and used option for the formation of a bee family. About its preliminary configuration is reported to the customer, and the quality is coordinated by GOST. Cellular packages typically include 4 or 6 Dadan-Blatt frames 435 × 300 mm.

Most often, standard equipment is ordered - these are three frames with brood and one feed, but at the request of the buyer, the package may consist of two frames with brood and two feed.

A lot of useful products are produced in the hive, among which are: pollen, wax, propolis, zabrus, perga, bee venom and royal jelly.
It should also be borne in mind that when ordering four frames with rasplod, the forwarding distance should be minimal.

Offset (frameless)

In contrast to the framework, cellless package includes a set of one fetal uterus, which is contained in a special small cage, as well as feeders, drinkers and other working bees. There is no doubt that a number of important and positive benefits can be obtained from the use of the non-cell packet family:

  • monetary costs for the prevention and control of bee diseases are reduced to a minimum;
  • cellular economy can be easily and quickly updated;
  • it is much cheaper to transport cell bags
  • maintenance and care for bee colonies that came out of packages after a monthly transplant, are simple;
  • it is much easier to trace the individual qualities of both the queen bee itself and the whole family.
Important! The frameless view of the bee package is also governed by GOST. It follows from this that the working individuals in the package itself must be not less than 1.2 kg. Deviation from the norm in this case is permissible in 100-200 g.

Pchelosemya and pchelopaket: the difference

Pchelosemya

The bee package and the bee family have some differences. Pchelosemya is a fully harmonious familywhich has already suffered one winter, it already has its own queen bee, and the bees are divided into several types according to age: drones, workers, brood. In order to immediately manage to cope with the formed bee colony, a certain experience of caring for honey insects is needed, because such a purchase usually occurs in the spring, when the bees can overflow, which will lead to the death of the uterus and, as a result, the loss of the whole family.

To melt the wax with the least amount of time you need a wax refinery.
Therefore, for a beginner beekeeper, the option of breeding bees with bee packages that have great potential for future development is perfect.

Also a significant difference is the fact that the acquisition of a bee package, unlike the bee family, is possible only in spring.

How to transplant bees from the package to the hive

Before starting the transfer of a bee package to the hive, the future "house" must be brought into proper form, thoroughly washing and disinfecting it inside. Otherwise, the planted swarm may fly off due to its sensitivity to foreign odors.

You will be interested to learn how to make a multi-hive with your own hands.
Therefore, it is recommended to thoroughly burn the newly acquired beehive with a blowtorch and wash it with purified water, dry it and be sure to process the walls with a special broom from lemon balm or motherwort before transplantation.

Important! After pretreatment, the hives are put in place prepared in advance, but if the apiary is not yet ready to accept new bee packages, they are transferred to another place (about 3 km away) and the bees are already released there.
In order for the transplant process to pass for bees and for the beekeeper without unnecessary problems and stress, it is necessary to prepare the necessary amount of waxed frames and sushi in the apiary, as well as to install a watering bowl.

Out of cell

The main condition for the transfer of bees from the honeycomb bee package to the hive is the maximum speed and the maintenance of a moderate temperature regime. In hot weather, this manipulation is best done after sunset, and in a cool period, you can not adhere to a certain time.

Next, the beekeeper needs to follow such professional steps.:

  • to dilute the smoke;
  • change clothes in overalls (coat, gloves, mask);
  • install the package on the hive site;
  • open a beekeeper for beekeeping;
  • then near the package it is necessary to put a hive and carefully rearrange the framework with the flown insects into it.
After all this, we transplant the rest of the insects from the bee package that are still on the bottom or walls, gently sweep them onto the frames. Next you should release the uterus.

Out ofless

You can carry out the transplant of the cellless kit in a frequently used way, the effectiveness of which usually exceeds all expectations:

  • a couple of days before the packages are delivered to the hives, it is necessary to put a frame with a waxed line (for 1.5 kg of insects - five usual frames or seven multi-bodies) and be sure to limit them to the diaphragm;
  • in order for the bees to be calm and quickly gathered in the club, the delivered packages were initially placed in a well-ventilated dry place;
  • so that insects from the box can easily move to the uterus, the package is usually placed near the framework (waxed), and the cage with the uterus between them;
  • in case of a multihull hive, the uterus must be placed in the very first building between the frames, and the inverted stern opening down the bag is placed in the second;
  • if the uterus was initially transported with other bees, the bag should simply be shaken out into the hive.
Did you know? The bee can transfer about 50 ml of nectar on itself, but some of the delicacy is eaten during the flight to maintain energy. If the distance of the flight is large, the insect can reduce its prey by 70%.

Features and advantages of use

Also of note are some additional benefits of using a standard size bee package and some of its features:

  • the package contains such necessary details: 3 kg of bee feed, 1 kg of bees and approximately 2 kg of brood;
  • sometimes flying insects are found in such packages, but more often these are bees that dry around the frames and broods;
  • the party must contain a young uterus, whose age does not exceed two years, strong bees and printed brood.
If you nevertheless chose exactly on bee packages, then you should definitely pay attention to the variety of goods on the domestic market, because packages, like queen bees, have their own appearance and breed.
Learn about the most different types of such a valuable beekeeping product as honey: buckwheat, linden, phacelia, rapeseed, chestnut, acacia, acacia, coriander, white.
Especially popular now are bee packages called “Karpatka” in common people. They contain only high-quality material and highly productive queens.

Now, relying on all the above-mentioned tips and recommendations on choosing the necessary devices for growing highly productive bees, you can calmly and confidently gain experience in beekeeping and delight yourself and your loved ones with delicious honey.