moving a new hive

mizkidmas · May 04, 2006, 02:53:35 PM

I hived a new batch of bees 2 days ago. The following day after hiving, it was pouring rain so there was no flying for them. Today is sunny and nice. but my husband tells me I've got to move the hive from where it is because its too close to where he cuts the grass. Can I move the hive back about 100 ft at night or do I have to do it in small increments...they haven't had much time to orient....what should I do?

Understudy · May 04, 2006, 02:57:04 PM

Move the hive to it's new location and put branches in front of the entrance to force them to reorient themselves. After a couple of days remove the branches.

I would move the hive either very early in the morning before the flights begin or at night, to minimized bees that get confused and lost.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

mizkidmas · May 04, 2006, 02:59:50 PM

so I can't go out there now and pick the hive up and slowly walk with it so all the bees follow. I have to wait for tonight or early am?

Understudy · May 04, 2006, 03:02:33 PM

Bees that are out foraging will become disoriented and possibly lost.

It is just easier in my humble opinion to move the hive in one shot either at night or in the morning.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

mizkidmas · May 04, 2006, 03:05:11 PM

great. I'll do that. Sorry for the need to clarify, but it makes sense now that you said it. :D thanks a bunch

Michael Bush · May 05, 2006, 09:14:45 AM

>so I can't go out there now and pick the hive up and slowly walk with it so all the bees follow. I have to wait for tonight or early am?

No they won't follow. Ideally you move it when the bees are home, if you can lift it. (night) Close it up first (screen stapled over the entrace) move it to where you want it, unstaple the screen and put the branch in front of the hive. THIS IS ESSENTIAL. Other wise they will all return to the old location.
A few will anyway, but wih the branch most will reorient.

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

mizkidmas · May 05, 2006, 10:24:11 AM

hive should be leasy to lift, ...one deep brood hived 4 days ago.
I wish my husband would have let me know that the spot I put it in was a bad one....but that happens,eh?
ok. and how long do I need to leave the branch in place?

Summerbee · May 05, 2006, 10:40:45 AM

I had th same problem... I got my hive and of course wanted to set it up in say, the garden. 'oh no!' my relations cried 'we can't have bees that close to our house!' So it has now been relegated to the corner of the south pasture, sigh. Anyway, if you move it, I think less than two miles, then a bunch of bees will keep flying back to the old spot and just crawl around on the grass. If you want you can scoop em up and put them in the hive at the new location.

But since yours has only been in that spot for two days... I would give it a shot and use the branch method. I'd leave the brnch in place for maybe 2-3 days.

mizkidmas · May 05, 2006, 10:44:42 AM

thanks summerbee. I'm not even moving it that far, maybe 100 ft the most. I think they should be ok from what you all are telling me. I'll give it a shot and let you know.

KONASDAD · May 05, 2006, 10:58:57 AM

Same problem. Just set up hive wendesday(5/3/06). Need to move it into an area of the yard w/ more sunlite. Big branch, or just enough to partially block the entrance. If I changed from a low entrance to a top entrance would that help too?
I'm probably going to move it about 50ft.

Michael Bush · May 05, 2006, 03:07:03 PM

Something they have to notice when they fly out.