New hive question

[Nugget Shooter]

I have acquired a new complete hive of Italian bees I will be picking later this week. It will be placed on a stand about 3 feet from another hive and my question is this, anything special I need to do? They are queen right and occupy 8 frames in a 10 frame deep so just open it up after getting them set? Put stuff in front of the entrance so they orientate or no stuff? Open the door and walk away keeping an eye on them?

As always my mentor staff..... Thank you

[gww]

Hey nugget.
How far away are you moving them from?  I have heard (but have no experiance) that you don't have to disrupt the entrance and that the jostling of the hive will tell them to see if they reconize anything when they leave the hive.  I admit to sticking a cedar branch in the ground in front of the hive when I moved a swarm though. 

I have three hives (mutts but probly italian in them) that are sitting on the same rack about a foot apart from each other.  The hive in the middle is bigger then the other two.  The small ones are about half closed with entrance reducers.  I have not had a problim yet.  I have heard that if the hive has some issue like queenlessness robbing could be more of an issue. 

I am where I can look at the entrance a couple times a day so would catch robbing if it started. 

We just got rain and we might not bee in a major derth but I am not sure.  Having the hives close then might come back and bite me but so far so good.

This is my first year and so I only have what I have experianced so far.  I would not try to lead you wrong but this is what worked for me so far.
Cheers
gww

[iddee]

Maybe this will be the answer you want. 

I would use an entrance reducer on the smallest opening for the first 3 or 4 days. Then watch the traffic flow going in and out. If they are flowing smoothly, leave it there.
If they are waiting to get in, or are bumping into each other, open it to the larger opening. Then when it is crowded again, remove it completely.

Feed them until the last two frames are occupied, then add another box and continue feeding as needed to keep them drawing comb. If the flow is on, they will draw without extra feed.

Three feet may be enough, but I like to set the hive top beside the hive and place the supers on it while working, so I have the hives far enough apart to do that.

[Nugget Shooter]

Thanks for the input and they are coming from NM gww, a hive I purchased when I first started beekeeping and a few days after receiving my first  package in April. Figured getting a second hive intact and rolling smooth would be a good thing, but crap happens and they could not deliver on time, but I waited patiently and finally I got a call they are on the way. Since the purchase I have acquired two other colonies that are doing quite well and the folks bringing the hive down to AZ are catching up on several deliveries. Anyway just glad to have them finally on the way....

In hind site I could have simply waited a couple months and would have had the two more already here, but who knew. Just asking because don't want to have issues and my thoughts are should be as easy as set them on the stand and follow your advise.... iddee 

This bee thing can be addictive and up to 4 in less than 3 months, has anyone else noticed this problem? 

[iddee]

Ask the Adee family if it is addictive. Last thing I read said they had approximately 75,000 hives.   

Maybe you will be there in a few years. 

[gww]

Nugget
I would always listen to the old guys like iddee before listening to a newby like me.  He can probly see what mistakes I am about to make just from what I type.  Good luck with the new bees.  I am to the point now that I am just waiting for spring to see if mine work out or I have to start over.  I will still be trapping I am sure but also hoping to have a bit of honey from what I have now by this time next year. 
I will have some building of equiptment between now and then.  The way you are adding, you are probly going through a bit of equiptment yourself.  I think if I got to 75000 hives that bee keeping wouldn't be that fun.  It is still pretty fun at 3 though.
gww

[Nugget Shooter]

Nugget
I would always listen to the old guys like iddee before listening to a newby like me.  He can probly see what mistakes I am about to make just from what I type.  Good luck with the new bees.  I am to the point now that I am just waiting for spring to see if mine work out or I have to start over.  I will still be trapping I am sure but also hoping to have a bit of honey from what I have now by this time next year. 
I will have some building of equiptment between now and then.  The way you are adding, you are probly going through a bit of equiptment yourself.  I think if I got to 75000 hives that bee keeping wouldn't be that fun.  It is still pretty fun at 3 though.
gww

Not a darn thing wrong with your advise gww and I very much appreciate your usually being willing to help. I was giving the wink smiley thing to iddee because of a comment he referenced with a smile from another thread when answering. I really enjoy reading here and learn much. Keep it coming and perhaps one or two of the hard lessons some of you have learned and share will help me avoid any major disasters.

[GSF]

Having the hives close then might come back and bite me but so far so good.


I have about 35 colonies right now. Most of them are "inches" apart. I do try to keep the entrances a hive's width away, as in when facing all of the entrances are to the left.

[Nugget Shooter]

Then another question if I may, will the bees from the new hive be disorientated enough to try to go into adjoining hive on the stand? Would an obstruction put temporarily between hives be beneficial?

[GSF]

It's my understanding they use both orientation and smell to locate their hive. But yes they will get disorientated and drift over to another hive.