Ok, good to know! It could definitely rain more than a few days (or at least I’m hoping it will or the wildfires could be bad this summer!!!)
We have La Nina this year in California, so I am sure our wildfires will be bad… 
Yeah it was very dry, warm winter up here. A little weird actually! We have been on a fire ban since early March, WAY earlier than we usually are
If you decide to go with a baggie, Rusty has quite a good check list on her blog:
I have never used one myself - most of the time, I use a pail feeder or a hive top feeder with floats.
Once they have some capped stores and there is nectar coming in, I wouldn’t worry about it.
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Ok I feel like 20 questions, but the more research I do, the more question I have!
So I watched Michael’s video on how to install a package. So based on me being in Calgary, with only one hive, where it is still near zero some nights, using foundationless frame where I don’t want wonky comb…I’m going to direct release the queen. Does this sound about right to everyone!!?
Also ,I’m going to group my frames very close together in the brood box in the centre, and I’m going to cover my top hole for a bit so they don’t build comb in the “attic”.
Since we have things blooming, but are expecting rain this weekend, I’m going to feed when it starts raining and continue until they can get out on their own to forage again.
I am so unbelievably excited for tomorrow!!!
What do you all carry in your first aid kits? I’m an ER nurse so I think my perception of bee stings is skewed!! I tend to only see the ones with anaphylaxis so I think I want some fast acting antihistamine in there in case!
Toothpaste and antihistamines - Benadryl syrup. Phenergan is good too. Don’t drive if you have to take them! I also carry acetaminophen and naproxen, because I am a pain coward. 
Toothpaste (on the sting site - edited after Ed’s joke below) works pretty well for me on diminishing the sting pain (sting venom is acidic), but my husband isn’t impressed with it. Somebody on this forum suggested Betadine (Povidone iodine), but I haven’t tried that yet. I am trying to get my husband to bug his doctor for an Epi-pen, because he had a near anaphylactic reaction (hypotensive collapse - recovered quickly, but scary at the time) once when he got a lot of stings.
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So I watched Michael’s video on how to install a package. So based on me being in Calgary, with only one hive, where it is still near zero some nights, using foundationless frame where I don’t want wonky comb…I’m going to direct release the queen. Does this sound about right to everyone!!?
That’s what I would do.
Also ,I’m going to group my frames very close together in the brood box in the centre, and I’m going to cover my top hole for a bit so they don’t build comb in the “attic”.
Yes.
Since we have things blooming, but are expecting rain this weekend, I’m going to feed when it starts raining and continue until they can get out on their own to forage again.
Yes. Let them finish whatever you give them and if you get several days of rain again soon, feed them some more.
What do you all carry in your first aid kits?
Don’t have one.
I’m an ER nurse so I think my perception of bee stings is skewed!! I tend to only see the ones with anaphylaxis so I think I want some fast acting antihistamine in there in case!
I have never taken anything with me for bee stings. I use plantain which is always growing nearby… and usually I don’t even use that…
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I’ve heard of using plantain before, from my British mother in law 
So the weather forecast for today is rain starting tonight, and continuing on for four days, of course.
So my question is, if I have to, can I install the bees in the rain? I’m going to do it when I return home with them this evening, hopefully before it starts to rain!!! But if it is already raining, am I still good to go??Hubby can stand and hold an umbrella if need be!!!
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Sounds good! It was more for other people that get stung that I want a kit! I’ve been stung a few times over my life and have never had any issues, pretty sure husband has been stung multiple times as well, but our daughters haven’t!!
Rain or cold is the best time to install them. They won’t fly and they won’t drift while they settle in. Of course you probably want someone holding an umbrella if it’s a downpour or wait for a letup. You don’t want them to drown.
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I’ve been stung all my life and then BAM, stung in the head, systemic reaction, ER visit. Subsequent stings to arms and hands haven’t bothered me.
I haven’t tried brushing my teeth immediately after being stung. Thanks for the tip! 
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ROFL. I would love to meet you sometime, you have a wicked sense of humor! 
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Thank you SO much for the advice everyone!!!
The apiary that we got the bees from gave us drawn comb because they said where we are (base of the Rockies) it is too cold to put them onto empty frames, that they need to have something started. They said in their experience packages don’t do very well without it here due to the cold. They also told me to feed feed feed because there is definitely not enough nectar flow here until mid June. And I bought a feeder insert from them. I was told to direct release the queen, and always put the new brood box under the first one to conserve warmth. Also to put the bees into the hive in the dark, we don’t have a red light so we are going with right at dusk!!! I am, as always, completely willing to listen to any advice or information that differs
Driving back 2 hours with 10,000 bees in a box on my passenger seat was an interesting experience
Well here we go!!!