Okay , The bees are receiving their eviction notice. Tomorrow they get relocated. Here is the plan.
Get up early (ugh) and go in and cut out the comb and secure it to the frames with rubber bands.
I am going to brush the bees into a bucket and try to locate the queen.
Once the frames are secure and the bees are in the bucket. I am going to move them into my yard. Place the bees into the new hive. I have a branch I am going to put in front of the hive to force them to reorient themselves.
The boat will have the old location sealed off.
I am going to fill a feeder jar for the bees and place it at the entrance of the hive so they have something to eat and to help deal with the relocation.
Now here are the silly questions.
1. In a wonderful move we had a slight cold front move in today it will be in the 40-60F range for the next couple of days. Should this have any effect on the move?
2. I have an entrance reducer for the hive, should I use it and what size should I leave the opening at?
3. What can I do about bees that aren't in the hive in the relocation and those that may try to keep getting back into the old location?
I will let you all know how the move goes. My wife has promised to keep the cell phone close by and call 911 after they have stung me a couple of thousand times. She is so considerate.
Sincerely,
Brendhan