i am in the process of buying bee hives. need handling answers

adamant · July 05, 2011, 11:15:40 PM

i am buying a few hives from a family that is getting out of bees.
they come with brood chamber and super . i will be traveling 100 miles with them in a back of a open pick up.
1. face the opening toward the tail gate?
2. staple screen and screen off the opening?
3. go pick them up at dusk?
4. how can i keep the lid secure? temporary screw it to the side of the super or ratchet strap each hive down?
5. in the morning before dusk if i have to or does it matter,place the hives in possession in my bee yard and remove the screen?

if i got this correct great! if not please tweak this process for me

AllenF · July 05, 2011, 11:23:09 PM

Screen will work fine to close them up and do pick them up at dark. I now like ratchet straps around the entire hive to hold it all shut. We use to staple all the boxes together. After you get the hive in place at your house then take the screen off, before morning. It sounds like you are about to become a beekeeper.

adamant · July 05, 2011, 11:26:05 PM

Quote from: AllenF on July 05, 2011, 11:23:09 PM
After you get the hive in place at your house then take the screen off, before morning.

9 am to late to remove the screen?

iddee · July 05, 2011, 11:28:44 PM

As Allen said. Also, place the hives in place when you get home, then remove the screen 10 minutes later. Waiting until daylight is asking for trouble.

adamant · July 05, 2011, 11:33:34 PM

thank you both.. i like the hive staples suggestion.. what king of staples Can i use if i don't have hive staples? i was thinking about screwing a small piece of 1x2 on the sides so they don't separate..

fish_stix · July 05, 2011, 11:39:47 PM

Straps work better! No need to pull out staples later to get the boxes apart. Simple is always better with bees.

G3farms · July 06, 2011, 12:04:50 AM

Screen wire in the front entrance with a couple of staples, a paper stapler works good, easy to pull out.

I like to use ratchet straps around the entire hive also, quick and simple. If you do not have enough then use the short boards and screws.

When you get them home set up and pull the screen off so they can fan the entrance if too hot, waiting until morning they will pour out and be ill tempered. Don't forget to put something (I like grass) in the entrance so they will re-orient to the new location.

Have your hive stands already set up before you leave to pick them up, will make things go much smoother when you return home.

Good luck with the trip!!

Boom Buzz · July 06, 2011, 01:30:11 AM

All good advice above. I just wanted to second (or third) the suggestion to use the ratchet straps instead of stapling or screwing. If you don't have some straps do yourself a favor and buy a few. It will save a lot of time and it holds the hive together great. No slipping or coming apart en route. Use one per hive, encircling the hive top to bottom.

Have fun with your new bees and equipment!

John

Intheswamp · July 06, 2011, 09:32:28 AM

Everybody has given you some good experienced advice. Now for some unexperienced advice/info. :)

Pick up the hives after dark. There will be some foragers coming in late to the hive and waiting a little after dark will help to get these inside the hive before you seal it up.

Check out the bed of your truck. It isn't so bad these days, but in years past there could be a "hot spot" where the exhaust system wasn't properly shielded or either too close to the bottom side of the bed. This would result in a hot surface. You don't want to get home and find steamed bees. Simply run your truck for a fair distance and feel around with your hand in the area (probably right behind the cab) that you will be setting the hives. It probably is irrelevant with todays's modern pickup trucks, but just in case....

I'm looking forward to hearing "the rest of the story" from you. I'll be in the near or distant future picking up a couple of hives myself...though only about a 10 mile ride for them.

Best wishes,
Ed

adamant · July 06, 2011, 06:39:25 PM

cant find 1/8th screen.. will window screen work?

AllenF · July 06, 2011, 06:57:34 PM

yes

adamant · July 06, 2011, 10:29:51 PM

getting ready for the move... what do u think?

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adamant · July 06, 2011, 10:40:04 PM

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Sparky · July 06, 2011, 10:43:53 PM

Looks like the girls have found a new home. Have fun. ;)

G3farms · July 06, 2011, 10:45:24 PM

Looking good!!

What is planted in the field behind the bees?

adamant · July 06, 2011, 10:58:55 PM

blackberrys and raspberry

adamant · July 09, 2011, 07:05:43 AM

thank you all for your replies..
well it went well.got there after dark.. placed window screen on the front enterence.. ratchet-straped the hives loaded them in the truck . placed them on the stand.. got up at dark removed the screens covering the entrance before first light (amazing how many bees where out there). placed some small branches across the landing board .. today going to get feeders (i think this time i am going to get the qt. jar feeders instead of the top 4 gal. feeders..)

AllenF · July 09, 2011, 03:51:11 PM

If they are full hives, you may not need to feed. They may can take care of themselves. Also with jar feeders, if you place them on the front of the hives, you may start a robbing episode. You can place jars in an empty box on top of each hive. Inside under the top lid.

Kathyp · July 09, 2011, 05:26:14 PM

looks like the bees got a nice new home. if those berries are blooming you probably don't need to feed. if you have looked inside and there are stores, you can probably skip the feeding for now. you may need to feed toward the end of next month if there's not enough stored. also, evaluate the amount of room in the hives. one deep and a super may not be enough if these are established hives. you may need to expand now and reduce later.....if you are not sure, post some pictures of the frames when you get a chance to look and we can see how much brood, stores, and room you have.

i know you are done moving, but for future reference, if you don't have ratchet straps or hive staples the large size electrical staples will do. i prefer staples to straps just because i am usually wrangling the hives by myself and i find the staples to be easier....just a personal preference thing.

adamant · July 09, 2011, 07:29:07 PM

Thanks. I will post some pictures as I go. I have not opened them yet because I just got them settled last night. I am opening them sunday. When I handled them last night they seemed light so I thought the top framed are not filled out. I bought these cool feeders that fit in the box next to the frames. Black plastic that holds 2 gal.they have 2 openings that the bees can craw in to gown the plastic screen. Looks like if I have to feed I wiLl have to take out 2 frames. Don't know what to do if I have to do that ( just leave the frames out side and let them rob it I guess?
Thanks again.
Ant