Thank you to our great beekeeping mentors! I got my 2 Italian bee packages set up in their hives on Sunday. Sunday was perfect - very little wind and pretty warm. Both queens were placed into their respective hives with their marshmallow corks. I shook both boxes into the hives and turned the cans of bee food upside down on the pallets next to the hive so they could keep eating. I filled both inner hive feeders with a 1:1 ratio of sugar water, and put some long strands of straw into the feeders to help the bees climb out if necessary. The bees quickly seemed to settle in, and over the next few days, I would check on the hives, watching the bees go in and out, and I would also see them in various places on my property. Their golden color really stands out.
I had ordered some HiveAlive pollen patties, which came today, so I decided to don my bee suit and open the hives to place the pollen patties inside. I was pleased to see both queens out of their cages, happily surrounded by attendants and walking around on the frames. I also saw quite a few bees with full pollen pouches on their legs, probably due to the abundance of grape hyacinth & dandelions that have sprung up in the fields. I put the pollen patties in, refilled the sugar water, and closed them back up. The bees didn't seem to mind me at all. I didn't even have to use any smoke.
So far, I'm very pleased. I am so grateful to a great class and information. I feel so confident in my new bees, and I hope they continue to do well!