Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Tom K-B on May 10, 2013, 08:24:01 pm
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My wife wants to move our new hive to a location in our yard that we both agree would be better for the bees. The total distance of the move is about 30-40 feet. My suggestion is that we close up the entrance the evening before, move the hive in the morning and then open the entrance. Her plan is to move the hive about three feet per day until we get it to the location we want it in. Any recommendations about these two techniques?
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I am new to this also so you can disregard my advice if you want.
I believe it will cause less disruption to the bees if you do the move in one move. Every time you move a hive the bees have to reorient to the new location. if you do the move in several moves they will have to reorient each time and take them away from what they need to be doing. Collecting nectar, pollen and cleaning.
If you do the move I have read you should place a branch at the entrance so when the bees come out they will reorient to the new location.
Thats my 2 cents.
Good luck.
David
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My wife wants to move our new hive to a location in our yard that we both agree would be better for the bees. The total distance of the move is about 30-40 feet. My suggestion is that we close up the entrance the evening before, move the hive in the morning and then open the entrance. Her plan is to move the hive about three feet per day until we get it to the location we want it in. Any recommendations about these two techniques?
Close the entrance either at night, or early in the Morning before the bees are out and about. Secure with rachet straps and move to new location. Hang a branch, or some other obstruction over the entry way to que the bees that something has changed and they'll know to reorient to the new location. You can remove the branch after a couple of days.
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I second what Moots says. Just make sure that whatever you put in front of the hive makes them have to go around or push through so that they really know that something has changed. Be prepared for some confused and lost stragglers at the old location for a few days after. If you want you could put out an empty super with a lid for the stragglers to go into in the evening at the old location and then in the morning dump them into the hive. Have done this many times.
Alfred
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I do as Moots does as well. You'll still loose a few but it happens. I'm not one for moving stuff around more than I have to. I often do nothing when I do. I think there is more fuss over it than worthy sometimes. The few you lose will find a box to go to.
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3 feet every other daym
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Tom K-B,
Not sure if you're familiar with Michael Bush or not, but he's on this forum on a fairly regular basis. He's highly respected and has both a book and a ton of great information available via his website. Here's a link to his section on moving bees! (http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmoving.htm)
Good luck!
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I'm with Moots too. I just did this, without any problem. I found just 2-3 stragglers circling around the old site the afternoon after the hive was moved; by evening they were gone, and I expect they rejoined the hive. It went much easier than I'd expected.
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I have caught swarms, put their new home within 6 to 8 feet from old hive, put a branch or 2 in front of entrance and they stayed where I put them.
Joe
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Thank you all for your wisdom! Moots, I really appreciate the link to Michael's page. This will be very helpful as we think about how to relocate our hive.
Sure am glad I found this forum!
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I've also done it exactly as Georgia Boy and Moots suggested. I secured the hive that afternoon, went out about 10 to close the entrance and make the move. Everything worked perfectly! I even put a nuc box in the old spot. The next afternoon, I had one little bee that had come home to an empty house...I kindly escorted her to the new place ;)
~Angie
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http://bushfarms.com/beesmoving.htm#between (http://bushfarms.com/beesmoving.htm#between)
Move them.