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Author Topic: moving bees  (Read 13355 times)

Offline Ross

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moving bees
« Reply #20 on: January 05, 2006, 12:45:49 pm »
I have tied in comb 90 degrees to the way it was oriented in the hive and the bees are still using it for brood two years later.  May not work everywhere, but it did here.  You can also use rubber bands if tieing string is a pain.
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Offline Michael Bush

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moving bees
« Reply #21 on: January 06, 2006, 01:05:57 am »
I've flipped whole boxes upside down and had them fill the combs with honey, but at least the brood emerged and the queen moved up.

The bees use the surface tension of the honey to fill the upside down cells.  I've seen them do it in my observation hive:

http://www.bushfarms.com/images/BurrOnGlass.JPG
http://www.bushfarms.com/images/BurrOnGlass2.JPG
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
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"Everything works if you let it."--James "Big Boy" Medlin

Offline Understudy

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eviction notice
« Reply #22 on: January 06, 2006, 08:52:07 am »
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
The status is not quo. The world is a mess and I just need to rule it. Dr. Horrible

Offline Michael Bush

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moving bees
« Reply #23 on: January 06, 2006, 09:25:57 pm »
What she really needs to do is get the video camera on full zoom and film it for all of us.  Not to mention America's Funniest Home Videos.

It works best if the temps are warm enough for the bees to fly.  That would be 50 or so.
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
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Offline Understudy

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funniest videos
« Reply #24 on: January 06, 2006, 10:00:52 pm »
I wanted to video tape it, but the batteries are broken.  I ordered more but they won't be here in time.

The temp will not reach 50F. Not until mid day. By then most of the bees will be out collecting pollen. And I want to try to collect as many bees as possible.
In order to do that I would like to catch them before they begin flying their morning rounds.

I will post pics and a copy of the 911 call if it comes to that.

Sincerely,
Brendhan
The status is not quo. The world is a mess and I just need to rule it. Dr. Horrible

Offline Michael Bush

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moving bees
« Reply #25 on: January 07, 2006, 09:58:51 am »
>The temp will not reach 50F. Not until mid day. By then most of the bees will be out collecting pollen. And I want to try to collect as many bees as possible.

The bees are not going to stay put while you are doing the cutout.  It's better if they don't fly and get cold and can't fly.  The ones out gather pollen will come home, find home gone, circle tryig to smell home and find your hive with their mother inside.

>In order to do that I would like to catch them before they begin flying their morning rounds.

Not a good plan.  They will all be flying before you're through.  It should be weather they can do that in.
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
-------------------
"Everything works if you let it."--James "Big Boy" Medlin

Offline Finsky

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moving bees
« Reply #26 on: January 07, 2006, 10:51:02 am »
That colony is quite small. It has no afford to loose it's members. And there are no emerging new bees in the hive.

If you have a place over 2-3 miles where to move it at evening. Bees remember they old place at least 2 months.

Offline Understudy

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end of thread
« Reply #27 on: January 07, 2006, 11:37:56 pm »
I have moved the bees. I have started a new topic to deal with the aftermath.
http://beemaster.com/beebbs/viewtopic.php?t=4172

Sincerely,
Brendhan
The status is not quo. The world is a mess and I just need to rule it. Dr. Horrible

 

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