Moving Hives today....little nervous.

[hollybees]

Hello everyone,

Well it's in the 40's this weekend and I'm finally going to move my hive's out back.
They'll have full sun back there and I can add more hive's there too.

This is the plan.....
Set up a new stand out back.
Duct tape the entrance.
Lift my cherry-picker into the back of my pick-up, and lash it down to the bed so it can't tip.
Remove the tailgate, extend the boom, put 2 ratchet straps around the hives.
Back up to the hive, pick it up by the ratchet straps, tie it off to the back of the truck so it can't swing around.
Slowly move them to the new location...which is about a pitching wedge away (100 yards).....

I'm not sure if I should put a branch in the front like MB suggests or not since it's still winter here!
My guess is that it's not necessary.

Any suggestion's would be great!

Thanks,
Paul

[JP]

If you use duct tape, don't place the sticky side in, or you will have a mess of bees stuck to the tape. I would not use duct tape however.

Be very careful moving them, go slowly to minimize rocking back and forth, Although it sounds like it will be inevitable.

Even though its in the 40's, after you set them up, you will have some angry bees once they are opened back up. Make sure you are suited up when you open them back up.

40'S is not that cold for bees to be flying, especially being in full sun. I would at least stuff some grass in front of the entrances or do the branch like mentioned.


...JP

[hollybees]

Thanks JP,
Is it better to do the move later in the day?
I get you about the duct tape...didn't think of that!

[JP]

It doesn't really matter when, just seal them when its cold so they aren't flying and you get them all in. If you planned the move when it was much colder you wouldn't need the branch but I would just move them according to your plan. All should be fine. How many you moving?


...JP

[hollybees]

Jp,
I have two hives, I'll be moving both. There still packed w/bees.....so far.
I'm hoping to split them, but I have to study up on that before I decide.
and I guess it's to early to know what their numbers will be in a couple of month's.

Paul

[JP]

Good luck with the move Paul, try not to be nervous, everything will go well, you'll see.

As for sealing the entrances you could staple screen, stuff some screen, stuff some plastic, tack some wood in place, etc...



...JP

[WhipCityBeeMan]

If you bend a small piece of screen at a 45 degree angle and stick it in the opening it will work well to keep the bees in.  As for any other advice..dont drop the hives. 




Let us know how it went!

[Brian D. Bray]

86 the duct tape idea, not only will the bees stick to it but will reduce the air flow into the hive to the point it might sufficate.

Bending some #7 or #8 screen at a 90 degree angle and tacking over the entrance is a good way to go.  The other way is to fold a strip of door screen over on itself several times and then slide it into the entrance.  It will slightly unravel when pressure is released and stay in place in the entrance without nails, staples or screwws.  It slides in and out easy. 

[hollybees]

Hive's are in there new spot now ... and yeah it went OK! (just like u said it would "JP")
But I admit I was a little terrified, but only of what could have happened...
I didn't drop the hives either  8-)


Rig worked great!


Their new home!

Thanks for the help!
One more beekeeper experience under my belt. (yes, I agree duct tape is a bad idea)
Paul,

[JP]

Great job Paul, top notch job! Are those two deeps, one medium?


...JP

[hollybees]

Actually there are 5 mediums.....I guess I kinda messed up by not reducing them down some for winter.
I had 3 mediums for brood and 2 full honey supers. The 3 brood were packed w/bees in the fall.
They seem to be doing ok. They were buzzin' pretty loud after I moved them.

I let them settle down for an hour or so, then suited up and opened them up.
They were fine, really not to aggressive.......except for the one that got into cab of the truck.
My Wife went out last and I got a call shortly after she left....yep! she found her  :shock:
Got her right in the neck!  8-)

oops, sorry honey.... :-D

[JP]

3 mediums for the brood nest is fine and you had two full honey supers atop that to get them through your winter, sounds OK to me. Lots on this site use all mediums, its a great way to go as they are interchangeable.

When the weather warms up a bit, pick a day that will be relatively warm that day and that night, and a few after that so as not to disturb winter cluster and go in and check the hives.

Its important to check them after a move to ensure frames haven't separated which usually happens to some degree during a move, particularly long hauls. I believe with your set up it will be minimal. But you may want to do a quick check and push the frames that separated back in place, if there are indeed any that separated to ensure proper bee space.

This way they don't build comb in the extra space and cause you extra headache.



...JP