Moving Hives

[applebwoi]

I've been keeping bees now for 4 years and have all my hives  in my back yard.  However, I got a good place out in the country just 7 miles away so I'm going to move everything out there.  Any suggestions on making the move as easy as possible?  Right now I have 11 hives, and each hive is overwintering in three mediums.  Temps getting into the 40's and 50's so I figure the clusters should not be too tight for me to just pick them up, put them into the back of my pickup and haul them out to the new site.  I appreciate any advice you can give.

[JP]

Seal them up & use ratchet tie downs & don't drive like a madman and all will be well. Seal them early morning before daylight or night before.


...JP

[Hemlock]

What JP said.
I moved mine in similar conditions when I first got them, 15 or so miles.  I moved mine at dusk well after they had all come home for the night.  Tied them closed and stuffed a towel in the entrance.  Braced the hives in the truck and drove 15 to 25 mph on the flattest roads between the two locations.  Set the hives back up under flood lights at my house.  Everything was ready to go and waiting.

The guy I got the bees from said once at the new location to place a stick leaning in front of the hive.  He said that way the bees sense a change and reorient themselves.  I don't know but I did it anyway.