Hi everyone,
We are about to install our hiive outside and our bee family will arrive in March for Spring. I’m confused about several things and I’m just at the beginning of becoming a bee keeper. Today we wanted to install the poll and the hive outside. Do we need to put wax inside or any other thing? What shall we do before receiving the family? Thank you for your help.
Hi Stephanie,
That’s exciting, gratulations on starting your beekeeping journey!
Before your bees arrive in March, there’s not much you need to prepare inside the HIIVE.
Here’s what you should do now:
- Install the post securely
Make sure the post is stable and firmly anchored. The HIIVE must not wobble or move. - Mount the HIIVE and check alignment
Ensure it sits straight and stable. A very slight forward tilt can help with moisture drainage. - No wax needed inside
You do not need to add wax foundation or anything else inside. HIIVE is designed for natural comb building. The bees will build their own comb. - Keep the honey dome closed
If this is your first year, I recommend keeping the honey dome sealed (red insert) so the colony can focus entirely on building the brood chamber. No need to add the dome with the wooden parts. Actually I would recommend not to put it in rn. - Choose a good location
Ideally:
- Morning sun
- Some protection from strong winds
- Not permanently in deep shade
- Entrance facing open flight space
When your bees arrive:
If you receive a swarm or loose bees, do not let them enter through the front entrance directly. Instead, open one of the lower flaps/buckets of the brood chamber, attach a white linen to it, and let the bees walk in through that opening. This makes the installation much calmer and more controlled. You can spray the bees with water before emptying them on the linen in order they don’t fly so much.
There is no need to pre-wax or “prepare” the interior — the bees will naturally start building once they move in.
If you tell me whether you are receiving a swarm, a nuc, or package bees, I can guide you step-by-step for your specific situation.
Best regards
Peter
Thank you so much Peter. We will receive a package, with the queen in a separate box.
I saw in the instructions that we have to put some bark mulch on the hive. We gather some barks from a fallen tree in our place. Is it something you would recommend?
Also I saw the video of Mark on his Instagram, very useful to have a video back up; it is quite clear.
I’m so grateful for having this chance to share my doubts and questions with the community. Thank you again.