Is there a quicker way?

DuaneB · April 22, 2019, 05:33:52 PM

Hey everyone,

Put a swarm in a 10-frame box, on the Apr 12th. The Red Bud trees in front of them now have leaves and block the sun until almost 10:30AM. I want to move them about 50 feet, up to a spot where my other bees are. Is there a way to speed up the 3 feet a day process? I've heard things like "confine them; move them; and leave them confined for 3 days; then release". Is there a shorter method to get them to reorient? Going on a trip for the next 2 week, starting this Thursday.

Thanks.

Michael Bush · April 22, 2019, 05:41:53 PM

http://bushfarms.com/beesmoving.htm

Oldbeavo · April 22, 2019, 05:48:04 PM

I had an empty hive in the workshop that had a swarm move in, lovely to have company while I work.
I moved them about a foot every hour until they were about 15 feet from the original position in 2 days.
As they are a single hive then maybe 2 feet an hour may be OK, you will tell if it is too far as bees will be hanging around the old spot.
best of luck

yes2matt · April 22, 2019, 05:50:00 PM

Move them and put some brush or a branch with leaves in front of the entrance. So they get the idea something has changed and they need to re-orient. Install a robber screen serves the same purpose. I do it all the time, the more annoying the obstruction, the more effective it is.

BeeMaster2 · April 23, 2019, 10:43:30 AM

Just move them at night and as Matt said put up something to make them reorient.
Jim Altmiller

DuaneB · April 23, 2019, 12:15:37 PM

Thanks for the info. I did as you all suggested. I moved them at night and blocked the entrance with a small leafy branch. This morning I saw them out and orienting. So this evening, should I remove the branch?

Thanks again.

saltybluegrass · April 23, 2019, 12:23:32 PM

So how bad is it that mine are in shade until 1 or 2 pm? I guess that?s why I see so much afternoon activity versus early morning.
Does it matter how brutal the summer can be if I move them to sunny spots?

Ben Framed · April 23, 2019, 01:09:34 PM

Quote from: DuaneB on April 23, 2019, 12:15:37 PM
Thanks for the info. I did as you all suggested. I moved them at night and blocked the entrance with a small leafy branch. This morning I saw them out and orienting. So this evening, should I remove the branch?

Thanks again.

I hope this works out for you. Let us know the results.
Phillip

BeeMaster2 · April 23, 2019, 01:26:20 PM

If they have full sun from 2:00 on, I would of worry about moving them especially here in Florida. It will just make it much nicer to work the bees in the morning.
Jim Altmiller