Moving the Hived Swarm to New Spot

DayValleyDahlias · March 17, 2008, 11:26:42 PM

I must move the hived swarm to the beeyard...it is 65 feet away...

Here is what I have read:

Close up hive after forages have returned home just before dusk...

Move the hive to the new location.

Place a branch in front of the entrance to help them re orient...

Set them free in the morning.

I was told today, that I actually have to MOVE the hive 5 miles away???

I think I asked this question a long time ago, but I can't find it...Thank you all in advance

Keith13 · March 17, 2008, 11:44:09 PM

ive read its over five miles or more away, or you can move them 3 to 5 feet per day and they should adjust accordingly

Jerrymac · March 17, 2008, 11:47:50 PM

Quote from: DayValleyDahlias on March 17, 2008, 11:26:42 PM
Close up hive after forages have returned home just before dusk...
Move the hive to the new location.
Place a branch in front of the entrance to help them re orient...
Set them free in the morning.

That right there that you said. That is what you do. If it appears there are bees returning to the old location you can set (sit?) up another hive body for the bees to go into and dump it at the new location after dusk. After a few days they will get the idea.

bassman1977 · March 17, 2008, 11:49:45 PM

I agree with Jerrymac. It's a fine trick that works like a charm.

Brian D. Bray · March 18, 2008, 12:27:37 AM

In a beeyard with several hives any stragglers will eventually relocate to one of the hives in the yard, maybe the one they came from, maybe not. Does It make a difference? Not IMO.

DayValleyDahlias · March 18, 2008, 01:35:51 AM

Cool, that is great news, I wasn't sure just where I could keep them 5 miles away!

Thanks a heap

sean · March 18, 2008, 09:11:27 AM

whenever i move a hive i always end up with a new one in the old location. I cannot resist putting a nuc with 2 frames of eggs and brood there and just starting a new colony

bassman1977 · March 18, 2008, 09:54:40 AM

Quotewhenever i move a hive i always end up with a new one in the old location. I cannot resist putting a nuc with 2 frames of eggs and brood there and just starting a new colony

That's cool. I moved my hives to the new area I cleared for my expansion on Sunday. Yesterday evening I went down to the old location to see if there were a lot of bees looking for their homes and there were maybe 10 or 15 total (out of 4 hives moved). It was cold on Sunday (and breezy) so I don't think they did much flying. My guess is that the few that were still out and about, were out since Saturday, which was considerably warmer.

Michael Bush · March 18, 2008, 10:29:37 PM

>I was told today, that I actually have to MOVE the hive 5 miles away???

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmoving.htm

DayValleyDahlias · March 22, 2008, 12:04:44 PM

QUESTION:

How long should I leave the branch in front of the hive?

Jerrymac · March 22, 2008, 12:42:03 PM

If they have been busy and no bees are showing up at the old location I'm sure they could orient in one day. Two or three days is surely enough.

DayValleyDahlias · March 22, 2008, 01:13:16 PM

Thanks Jerrymac!

DayValleyDahlias · March 22, 2008, 02:01:00 PM

We moved the hive last night around 7:15pm...placed a branch in front of entrance as instructed. This morn there are bees at the old spot. I placed an old nuc in that spot with 2 HSc's that is all the space I had...

I would like to place a second brood box on them today, as they have really built up. Will that be okay? Or should I wait til tomorrow?

How long should I offer them sugar syrup? They have used 2 gallons in 2 weeks, and there is a flow on I am pretty sure...

Jerrymac · March 22, 2008, 10:27:45 PM

Usually when there is a flow around here I can't interest them in anything. Not even their own honey.

DayValleyDahlias · March 22, 2008, 11:03:50 PM

Thanks to everyone's advice and encouragement...looks like probably 90%+ of the bees are staying in their new location. I have left the branch there, probably removed it tomorrow. I added the 2nd brood box today, as they had already drawn just about everything out in barely 2.5 weeks.

No varroa in sticky board, I know it is, but thank goodness so far.

I popped a bit of sugar syrup on. If they don't take much, I'll toss it.

So far...hooray!

Thanks ever so much!

annette · March 22, 2008, 11:59:10 PM

How exciting for you to be able to watch them build up so fast and that they are happy. This week I am going to place a nuc out in the yard as a lure and see what happens. I am not expecting much really, but I should at least try.

I am happy for you Sharon.
Sincerely
Annette

DayValleyDahlias · March 23, 2008, 12:26:15 AM

Thanks Annette!,

You just never know! Calling all bees, calling all bees...new home in Placerville!