Need Help, had to move 3 hives, bees went to old location

[Utah]

Well, I had to move a few hives early this morning. The hives were in a spot that is very cold and wet in the winter. I had no choice - they have to be moved. So I got up early thinking the bees would all still be at the hives - wrong. As I was moving them in the dark I had bees flying in from all over.

Anyway, I had 3 pretty strong hives in one spot and I moved two to a new location 150 feet away and left one there. I also had a very small hive in a different location that I put in the spot of the two hives that were moved hoping to gather the drifting bees to that weak hive.

Well, the bees are all is a fuss. Bees everywhere, some fighting, etc.

So, I have the hope of losing as few bees as possible. Do you think the two hives will drift back to the old site? Will they successfully join the weaker or stronger hive? Will they just die?

Also, the old spot of the small weak hive has significant drift back. I thought this would happen so I put a nuc box there and they are going in it with full intent.  How can I save these bees and combine them to the old without the same drift?  I did put obstacles in the entrances of all the hives.

What else can I do with all these bees?? I still have to move the other hives soon.

Please help with information or suggestions. Thanks for any and all replies!!

Bryan in Utah

[mtman1849]

Some people say that when you move a hive it is 2 feet or 2 miles other say 3 feet or 3 miles  I have moved my hive 3 feet and they seem to find the hive ok after a few minutes.  If you have a  weak hive in the same location as the other two hive were and you are catching the field bees form the other two hives in a nuc you can try spraying the week have with a sugar water and mint extract mixture and do the same with the bees in the nuc then put the bees in the nuc in the week hive by the time they clean eachother up they should be friends.  This may not be the answer for you but its something to think about

[buzzbee]

After dark you could place some branches or other obstruction in front of the hive openings to force the bees to reorient to their new location.

[Michael Bush]

They will sort it all out in a couple of days.

[annette]

I moved a hive about 15 feet last month and it was very chaotic, but it turned out fine.

But I moved them at night (about 0900PM) and I did close up the hive. Then I placed the branches in the front on the landing board. In the morning I removed the screen to let them out and many many foragers just flew right out without reorienting. I thought they would re orient when they saw the branch. Anyway, during the day many bees did re orient before flying away. I went back up late in the evening that first night and I did not see any bees anywhere so I assumed they found their new home.  Well two nights later when I went up to visit them a little earlier, there was total chaos with bees everywhere and clusters of bees all over the ground around the new site and in back of the new hive site. This worried me very much, but when I went on the forum here, many beeks told me that it would all calm down in a few days. And it did calm down in a few days.

I believe many bees went into another hive that was closer to the old site. In any case, I did not lose any bees that I could see. They finally went into one hive or the other.

I think you will be fine with those hives. The bees will find their way.

Good Luck
Annette

[JP]

They will sort it all out in a couple of days.

This be true, I moved three hives from one spot to right in front of my front door before we evacuated for Gustav, then on my return moved then back to the original spot, yesterday morning I had bees to and fro, yesterday evening bees were back to normal.

You may not get every bee back in its original home, some may wind up in another box, but still, they have no choice but to make it back or join with another hive, no big deal really, just a little chaos for a day or two.


...JP

[WhipCityBeeMan]

Utah,

If you have to move hives for the winter it is better if you wait until the bees are in for the winter months.  I had to move a few hives last year.  I waited until late November or maybe it was early December when the bees are in for winter around here.  I didn't have any problems. 

I don't know if you can wait until then??

[Utah]

Hey! Thanks for all the replies. The bees are still a bit chaotic. The old spot definitely had quite a bit of drift back. That weak hive was pretty packed with new bees so I added a super and a feeder. I am hoping to salvage it before winter so I start with four next season.
The other hives are ok - one seems pretty weak. I think it may have lost the majority of the drifting bees.

Sure has been frustrating this year. No honey for me to harvest out of three decent hives. I really think it has to do with the strain of queens I got this year. Tendency to swarm and die early. Ugh! I will be getting new queens very early next season for all my hives.

What do any of you suggest for cold and wetter than normal climates?

[Frantz]

Where in Utah are you? We had a pretty good year here in the east bench of SLC. At least not bad for the first year anyway.
Also, I think that it is much better to get your new queens now and let them overwinter with the group. I am pretty new at this so "grain of salt and all that" but let me know where you are. There is a small group of us here in the east bench that I have met lately that might be able to help out.
Good luck.
Frantz

[Billy The Beekeeper]

 What i have done and has worked many of times is move your hives like 2+ miles away leave them stay there for like a week or two then once you they have been doin what they usually do move them into the new spot... this is my opinion and what i have done that works just thought i would share with you have a good one and good luck

Billy Bee's