Knowing how to install a package of bees the right way turns a nerve-wracking box of 10,000 loose bees into a calm, straightforward job that takes about fifteen minutes. It looks intimidating the first time, but the process is simple, and the bees are about as gentle as they'll ever be — they have no hive, no brood and no queen to defend yet. Here's exactly how to do it.
Install in the evening, in cool weather if you can. Remove a few frames, spray the package lightly with sugar syrup, hang the queen cage between two center frames (cork end up, candy end down, don't release her yet), shake or pour the remaining bees in, replace the frames gently, and close up. Feed syrup immediately. Check back in about a week to confirm the queen has been released and is laying.
Beehive Entrance Feeder (Boardman-Style)
A fresh package has no stored comb or honey, so feeding starts the moment they're installed. An entrance feeder is the simplest way to get 1:1 syrup in front of them right away.
Check today's price →Before you start
- Pick a calm evening, ideally 60-75°F, with little wind. Bees are calmer once foraging hours are over and cooler air keeps them clustered rather than flying off.
- Have your hive fully set up first — base, brood box with most frames in place, feeder ready, and the location final. You want the whole process to take minutes once the package is open.
- Mix 1:1 sugar syrup in advance so it's ready both for spraying the package and for the feeder.
- Suit up. A new package is unusually calm, but a full suit and veil is still the right call every time.
What you'll need
- Your package of bees and its separate queen cage (usually already inside, held by a strip of metal or wood)
- A spray bottle of 1:1 sugar syrup
- A hive tool and a small hammer or the tab already provided to remove the package's queen-cage marker
- Your hive, mostly assembled, with 2-3 center frames removed to make room
- A hive feeder, filled and ready
Step-by-step installation
- Spray the package lightly with sugar syrup through the screen on all sides. This calms the bees and gives them something to do besides flying at you the moment the box opens.
- Remove the syrup can (usually on top, held in with a metal strip) and set it aside — this is what feeds them during transport and it's now empty or close to it.
- Pull out the queen cage through the same opening. Check she's alive and moving, then set the package down gently for a moment.
- Remove the cork (or candy-plug cover) from the "candy end" of the queen cage — leave the candy plug itself in place, don't dig it out. This is what the workers will chew through over the next few days to release her gradually.
- Hang the queen cage between two center frames, screen facing out, candy end pointing down so the tunnel doesn't get blocked by a dead bee. Do not release her directly — the colony needs a few days to get used to her scent before they'll accept her.
- Shake the remaining bees into the hive. Remove the empty syrup-can opening or the package lid, and give the box a firm downward shake directly over the gap where you removed frames. Most bees will drop right in; a lingering few can be shaken out over the next several minutes.
- Gently replace the frames you removed, easing them in slowly so you don't crush bees clustered on the sides.
- Set the empty package box near the hive entrance for an hour or so — stragglers will smell the queen and walk in on their own rather than being lost.
- Close up the hive and attach your feeder right away. A fresh package has zero stored food and depends entirely on syrup until they draw comb and start bringing in nectar.
What to expect the first week
Leave the hive alone for about 5-7 days — resist opening it sooner, since disturbing a colony that's still accepting its queen can cause them to reject or even kill her. During this time the workers chew through the candy plug and release her gradually, which lets her scent spread through the colony before she's fully free. On your first real check, look for the queen cage empty (she's out) and, ideally, fresh eggs — a sign she's already laying and accepted. Keep syrup topped up throughout, and don't skip a proper first inspection; our how to inspect a beehive guide covers exactly what a healthy young colony should look like.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Releasing the queen immediately — always let the candy-plug method do the work; direct release risks the colony not yet accepting her.
- Opening the hive too soon to check on things — give it the full week before your first real look.
- Forgetting to feed — a new package has no reserves of its own and depends on syrup until comb and forage catch up.
- Installing in the heat of the day — bees fly off more readily and the process gets messier; evening is calmer for everyone.
If you're still deciding between a package and an established colony in the first place, our package bees vs nuc comparison lays out the trade-offs before you buy.
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Take the free quiz →Frequently asked questions
How long does installing a package actually take?
Once your hive is set up and ready, the install itself is usually 10-15 minutes from opening the package to closing the hive back up.
What if some bees end up on the ground instead of in the hive?
Completely normal — leave the empty package box near the entrance and most stragglers will smell the queen's pheromone and walk into the hive on their own within an hour or two.
Do I need to release the queen myself?
No — and you generally shouldn't. Leave the candy plug in place and let the workers chew through it over several days; that gradual release is what gets her accepted safely.
What if the queen is dead when the package arrives?
Contact your supplier immediately — most reputable sellers replace a dead queen at no cost if you report it promptly. Don't install a package with a dead queen; the colony needs a queen to survive past a few weeks.
This guide is educational; local laws and bee behavior vary — confirm details for your area. Contains affiliate links; we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.