blocking off entrance/transporting hives at night

[adamant]

i am going to move my location. in the past (last summer) i placed window screen at the entrance. do you see a problem with using a 1x4 cut to length and placed in front of the entrance instead of the window screen? only going 9 Miles down the road and its been cool at night here in NJ..

[AllenF]

Keep the time down to a minimum.   I have used tape to cover the front before, but only for a short time.

[beyondthesidewalks]

You need some of these.

http://s972.photobucket.com/albums/ae204/beyondthesidewalks/BoClosure/

[Kathyp]

if you have screened bottom boards you won't have any problem.

[hardwood]

If you're actually moving them in darkness you don't really need to close them up at all. Smoke the snot out of them, load 'em and transport. Smoke them again when you get there (5-6 good strong puffs in the entrance) and place them where you want them. You may lose just a few bees this way but not many.

If you're moving them during daylight screen them in the night before and move them the next day. You may lose just a few bees this way but not many.

Scott

[bee-nuts]

from what I read if moving at night you dont need to block entrances, like said above smoke the bees load them and haul them.  What I read said once moving the air flow blowing in entrances and vibration of the moving vehicle or whatever keeps the bees in the colonies. 

Otherwise, why not just screen the entrances quick, it dont take that long if you cut them ahead of time, stuff em in quick, load and go.

[bud1]

i move them all the time at nite and never close them up if it is hot and they get to bearding just spray them with water and they will cool down and go back in

[Hemlock]

When we move bees we just stick a shop rag in the entrance.  After the bees have settled down from the move it gets pulled out.  The material doesn't matter at all.  They're not going to run out of air any time soon.

[asprince]

The worse and most stings I have received was when I helped two guys move a hive at night. All I did was hold the light. They at our butts up!

Steve

[hardwood]

Next time use a red light ;)

Scott

[AllenF]

Next time, you hold the gun, get someone else to hold the light.    :-D

[Robo]

What I read said once moving the air flow blowing in entrances and vibration of the moving vehicle or whatever keeps the bees in the colonies. 

Putting them with entrances facing each other also helps.   They tend to want to stay in their entrance to protect it.

[beyondthesidewalks]

It's my luck that I'll get a flat or the truck will break down when I'm not prepared.  If I have the farm jack and the spare aired up and with me I will not have a flat.  The time I think that it's a short trip and I can get by without the spare and the jack, guess what?  That's the day I get a flat.

In that spirit I always put a closure on the hive when moving it.  I have plenty of them around for such an occasion.

If you're wondering, yes, I was a boy scout... :)

[G3farms]

for short moves and or when it is cool I use #8 hardware cloth. Cut a strip as long as the entrance and about 3" wide, fold into an "L" shape and push into the entrance, don't even need a staple. Can be used over many times before you loose them.

[yockey5]

For short (90 miles) moves at night I have always left them open. Load them about 2 am and get there before daylight, set them up and leave for home.

[catfishbill]

I use a piece of foam cushion cut into a small strip,cram it in the entrance with a hive tool.bees cant sting it and it is reuseable.

[Ben Framed]

The worse and most stings I have received was when I helped two guys move a hive at night. All I did was hold the light. They at our butts up!

Steve

This is an older post but I couldn?t help but smile at your reply asprince. Thanks for the smile.

Phillip