I've already moved bees in the past but I've always done it in cooler weather. When it's cooler all bees go into the hives at night to cluster. Now that the night time temps are warmer I find that there are quite a few bees on the outside of the hives. Not like bearding, maybe 50-100 bees. I would like to know if there is a way to get them to go inside or if I just don't worry about those few.
Hang a Motel 6 sign and leave the light on for them :-D Don't worry Bee Happy ;)
Thanks Steve. All I needed to know.
A very light smoking and 3 minutes patience and they will all be inside.
with bee suit
jay
Those bees on the outside won't hurt anything.
I just set the hive in my van and give them a few minutes to find the hive then go to the new location.
Those straggler bees will stay with the hive.
I move a lot of bees in hives, nucs, buckets, boxes and cages and always have 200-400 bees on the outside.
I had a deputy stop me just the other day wanting to know what I mean't by the sign on the back of my van saying LIVE HONEY BEES.
Then he said are those bees flying out of the windows, I said yep got a sign that says LIVE HONEY BEES.
He said ok, Have a good day and left.
I'm transporting by trailer. You guys have to understand, I'm a recovering perfectionist. I'll just slide the moving screen in place and screw it down. I just want to move a problem hive to my back yard and put a boomer in its place.
Capt44
I can just see it. One of those little signs like "Caution, Baby on Board" only reading "Bees on Board" :-D
Best anti-theft device ever.
JC
Trailers tend to bounce way more than trucks. I transported a cut out in a Toyota hatchback once
jay
good luck
You can usually herd them in with smoke like has already been said.
Try misting them with some water from a spray bottle. They think its raining and go inside.
Interesting idea, I may give that a try to see what happens. I did some splits the other day and have a new hive that was bearding the last couple of days. Not sure why because there isn't that many bees in there and the hive box is made of foam. Yeah, it's been sunny and about 75F here, but not really hot yet and the solar gains are blocked by the foam.
I know from problem hives. I wont bee bothered by them again, gave mine away.
jay
when she came to get them they tore me up. she was better suited up it still took three trips as i refused to help.
dont ask why
jay