temp & close hive relocation

[Dane Bramage]

Greetings all,

I need to refinish (pressure-wash, prime and paint) the deck where I've recently located my apiary. I'll require 3-4 days before being able to return the hives.   I am thinking to move the hives a short distance away, as close as 20 feet but up to 100+ feet if that would be preferable.  My questions are:
How disruptive is it to move a new (2-4 weeks from NUC) hive?
Will I be unduly harassed by the bees returning to their former home?
Would it be best to move them slightly - or as far as possible?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[thegolfpsycho]

MB and others have described their technique for short move many times.  Placing some brush at the entrance to make them reorient is critical.  I have tried it without much short term success.  I don't remember the bees being angry or harrassing, but there were an awful lot of them looking for their house at the original spot.  It dwindles over a couple days, but I don't know if they find the new home, join another colony, or croak hanging all over the bushes in the general area of the original hive.

[Hi-Tech]

I too have had about the same results as thegolfpsycho

[Understudy]

I move the bees at night.
Seal the entrances. Move the hive.
Unseal the entrances. Places twigs and grass in the entrances.
This will force a reorientation.
I have done this with a good deal of success.
After three days remove the twigs and grass.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[Michael Bush]

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

[Dane Bramage]

Got it.  Thanks all.  I had read a bit previously and this reinforces what I've understood.  I do plan on doing the move in the evening (or very early, cold morning), sealing them up, and re-orienting.  I've no issues with any of the methods/logistics.

Looks like a single day's disruption (for each move, there and back) won't be too bad.  I was posting specifically for "new" hives but no one has mentioned anything uniquely disruptive so I suppose it should be same as established hives.
Hopefully I'll have gathered up and sufficiently re-oriented all foragers but (question #2) does anyone have experience working in the former hive location and, if so, what was the attitude of the foraging bees who were looking for home but found you instead?   I'm wondering if they'll be protective and/or upset here.
Also - no one addressed the last question (I'm 0/3, lol).   Is it preferable to move them further away from original spot in this scenario (I'll be working in original location)?   What I'm wondering here is: is the % of reoriented foragers directly proportional to distance of the relocation?  I'd prefer to move them as little as possible but if I'm going to be swarmed by confused foragers irate at finding me instead of their former home, I'd opt to move them further.

Sorry to repost essentially all these same questions...  Again, I have read Michael's excellent web-page as well as some other posts on moving, I've just not found answers to my specific questions.  It's not an overly-critical issue... I'd rather not suit up and want to lose as few foragers as possible.  I'll blast them with the pressure washer if I have to however. ;)

Cheers,
Dane

[Michael Bush]

>Will I be unduly harassed by the bees returning to their former home?

The day after, yes.  A few for a few days after.

>Would it be best to move them slightly - or as far as possible?

If it's going to be under 2 miles, slightly would take less adjustment on their part.