Advice on moving hives

goertzen29 · June 20, 2011, 01:08:50 AM

Just looking for a little advice...The sweet clover around here is in full bloom. It is spread sporadically about in the ditches but there is a big patch(a few acres worth) about 3/4 of a mile away. Would it be worth it to move my bees closer? I have land that would put them within a hundred yards or so of this clover patch.
I know they are visiting that clover now but would it make much difference to move them that much closer?

I am also need help weighing the pros of being closer to forage versus the cons of stress that moving hives can cause within a colony as well as the distance they are being moved being less than the "2 mile" rule.

Thanks for any thoughts or advice

Jay

Jim134 · June 20, 2011, 04:34:10 AM

Quote from: goertzen29 on June 20, 2011, 01:08:50 AM

I am also need help weighing the pros of being closer to forage versus the cons of stress that moving hives can cause within a colony as well as the distance they are being moved being less than the "2 mile" rule.

Thanks for any thoughts or advice

Jay

No it is less then 3Ft. or more then 3Mi.

BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

goertzen29 · June 20, 2011, 11:02:19 PM

ok, thanks for clearing that up......but what about the move? Is it worth it to move the hives 3/4 mile closer to the clover or should I just leave the hives alone?

Jay

sc-bee · June 21, 2011, 01:03:44 AM

I would not move them for 3/4 mile, you already feel they are visiting the patch. Not worth the effort in my parts.

caticind · June 21, 2011, 11:23:40 AM

Bees will routinely fly more than a mile for good forage (and up to 3 or 4 if they must). If the patch is within a mile, you can safely assume they will work it. No need to move for such a short distance.

JP · June 21, 2011, 12:27:54 PM

The move if done with care will not stress the bees as much as you believe.

How many hives are we talking here?

...JP

sc-bee · June 21, 2011, 01:50:11 PM

It is not the bees stress I would be worried about, it would be my stress ;) It is 100+ in the shade, here today. Of course the poster is in NE (66 degrees) and not SC (100+):-D.

If you like the location better move them? I misread the first post as two acres of clover and not a few acres. What are a few acres? My understanding is it takes a significant amount of acreage to make an impact on honey yield, if that is the driving factor for your move.

goertzen29 · June 21, 2011, 03:15:17 PM

Well it is not "solid planted clover" but rather spread through out a 40 acre pasture. And yes the main reason I consider moving my 3 hives would be if it would significantly improve honey yeild. My thinking is that it takes alot less time to fly 100-300 yards rather than flying 3/4 of a mile. I know they will forage that distance and beyond but I'm just wondering about the efficiency question. Hopefully in a few years I can have my own clover field that I can place them right in the middle of;)

thanks for the input,

Jay

sc-bee · June 21, 2011, 04:15:44 PM

40 acres three hives --- I couldn't resist ;) Since it is less than three miles use the branch method of moving. Not sure how much it will help but certainly can't hurt.

Not familiar with this method do a search or check out MB's website---- bush farms, click beekeeping.
You will find in depth descriptions there on moving bees.

JP · June 21, 2011, 05:27:47 PM

The only way you will know for certain as to yield is to move them. Three hives, I say go for it.

...JP

goertzen29 · June 21, 2011, 08:01:43 PM

Thanks guys, I'll go look for a suitable spot tomorrow.

Jay

Dave360 · June 21, 2011, 08:47:01 PM

let us know if the old adage about not less than 2 miles comes in
(do the bees come back home)
I would like to know
good luck

Dave

sc-bee · June 21, 2011, 09:09:00 PM

Quote from: Dave360 on June 21, 2011, 08:47:01 PM
let us know if the old adage about not less than 2 miles comes in
(do the bees come back home)
I would like to know
good luck

Dave

That's why you use the branch method ;)

JP · June 22, 2011, 01:30:51 AM

Quote from: Dave360 on June 21, 2011, 08:47:01 PM
let us know if the old adage about not less than 2 miles comes in
(do the bees come back home)
I would like to know
good luck

Dave

I can tell you from experience that the two mile theory is hogwash. I've moved them 1/4 of a mile or less, many times and all was fine.

...JP

REDBEE · June 22, 2011, 12:19:03 PM

Hogwash???? I can tell you if you move bees 3/4 mile the field force WILL go back to their old location....The pieman has spoken. :-P

JP · June 22, 2011, 01:49:44 PM

To each his own "Pieman". :-D

...JP

BeeMaster2 · June 22, 2011, 02:03:03 PM

If you move them that short of a distance be sure to put an empty hive whit foundation frames, that you can close up and move, in the old location. What you will find is that the older bees will come back to that location the first time that they cross an old path they are familiar with. I did this trick when I moved them about 150' (i put a palm branch in front of the hive in the new location) The first day I had several hundred in the empty box. I closed it up that night and put it on top of the hive. The next morning it was empty and I put it back in the old location and did the same again for 3 days. each day I had less and less bees in the box at the end of the day. Good luck. Jim

sc-bee · June 22, 2011, 02:03:52 PM

Quote from: sc-bee on June 21, 2011, 09:09:00 PM
Quote from: Dave360 on June 21, 2011, 08:47:01 PM
let us know if the old adage about not less than 2 miles comes in
(do the bees come back home)
I would like to know
good luck

Dave

That's why you use the branch method ;)

Why not take a few and add a little extra insurance :)

Danger Brown · June 23, 2011, 03:17:08 AM

Very helpful. I need to move a colony from a swarm trap back into a hive and put them about 100ft from where they are. I've been worried and thought I might need to move them in baby steps.
Branch method, here I come!

BeeMaster2 · June 23, 2011, 12:40:22 PM

Very helpful. I need to move a colony from a swarm trap back into a hive and put them about 100ft from where they are. I've been worried and thought I might need to move them in baby steps.

How long have they, the swarm, been in the location that they are in? A swarm is a different situation. My Father-in-law has over 20 years with bees and now is A bee instructor and he just helped his neighbor with a swarm. They ended up in his garage in side a hive box that had 2 drawn foundations and the rest were frames with foundation. As soon as most of them were in the box he added a cover and a bottom board and moved it within a couple of feet of where the original hive was. A swarm does not return to the original hive in this situation.
Jim