Want to move a hive, but Bees wont go in, help please.

crowhammer · July 18, 2008, 07:51:57 AM

I have a hive I'd like to move, but have bees bearding all over the front. They are there all night. How do I get them to go into the hive? Do I smoke them? and if so when? Do they even need to be in the hive for me to move it?

randydrivesabus · July 18, 2008, 09:25:19 AM

how far are you moving it?

Jerrymac · July 18, 2008, 10:53:34 AM

Perhaps if you open up the top of the hive right at dusk it will help cool the hive down and they will go in. Perhaps even put on another super will help the situation.

Kathyp · July 18, 2008, 11:13:29 AM

if you need to move it, and you are not talking a but trucking it somewhere, just move it. the bees will move with the hive. if you are talking about trucking it somewhere, jerrymac is probably on to something with the extra super. also, wedge open the top if you have not. this will allow the heat to escape and hopefully entice them in for the night.

if you are going a long distance, you will probably never get them all in and moved, but i have had bees cling to a hive for a 70 mile drive and arrive with the hive.

KONASDAD · July 18, 2008, 12:37:05 PM

The hard part is getting it onto vehicle b/c the crawlers like to sting and theres no place to grab a hold. Once on vehicle, the bearding is usually not an issue unless they are totally exposed to the wind while driving. I just put in back of my SUV w/ no issues. they rarely fly around. Also SBB slatted racks and vented tops help w/ bearding too.

tlynn · July 18, 2008, 02:19:56 PM

I asked that same question to our apiary inspector and he said if you want to get them all in the hive at night and they are bearding, smoke the entrance and they will head inside.

My bees seem to all be on the porch at night. I added a second brood box on Tuesday and it made no difference at all in terms of numbers outside the hive. Given conditions where I live it must take that many to create the right spacing and airflow.

sc-bee · July 18, 2008, 05:51:48 PM

Smoking usually takes care of most of it! I don't have any luck moving them with them beared on outside, if the move is far. Never tried a net---tend to loose alot without the net especially @ stop signs etc. Could excite folks

Gware · July 18, 2008, 08:38:30 PM

I have heard of people spraying them with a water bottle(one that has heavy mist) and they will go in.

crowhammer · July 18, 2008, 08:56:40 PM

I'm only moving the bees 50 or so feet. I'm going to carry them there. I have my hive propped open at the top and have the bottom entrance open, and have a screened bottom board. But I live in florida, not too far from you, tlynn, and they still want to beard. I'll give the entrance smoking a try, then the water spraying a try. Thanks guys. Luckily for me I'm only going across the yard. If the move doesn't work out, I can just move the hive back and try something else.

JP · July 18, 2008, 11:25:09 PM

Quote from: crowhammer on July 18, 2008, 08:56:40 PM
I'm only moving the bees 50 or so feet. I'm going to carry them there. I have my hive propped open at the top and have the bottom entrance open, and have a screened bottom board. But I live in florida, not too far from you, tlynn, and they still want to beard. I'll give the entrance smoking a try, then the water spraying a try. Thanks guys. Luckily for me I'm only going across the yard. If the move doesn't work out, I can just move the hive back and try something else.

I would move them about 10' at a time until you get them to the new location, this would be done in 5 trips over 5 days, or over say 2 and a half days (morning and evening moves) This is to insure that they will reorient to the new spot and minimize the bees that return to the old location.

...JP