Best time to move bees?

Started by obfarmer, December 06, 2011, 09:26:30 AM

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obfarmer

December 06, 2011, 09:26:30 AM
Living in Midwest Michigan...need to move hives 10 miles south. Which would be easier on the bees, to move now or in the spring?

Hemlock

#1
December 06, 2011, 10:37:08 AM
Spring might be a better time to move.  If you move during build up and there's a mishap then the bees can recover quickly during the Spring flow.  Lose the queen now while trying to move and their toast.

Not that moving bees is a big deal. 

If you've put them to bed for the year leave 'em be.
Make Mead!

hardwood

#2
December 06, 2011, 10:58:24 AM
Move them now! You'll lose fewer bees with the cold weather.

Scott
"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...And we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Theodore Roosevelt 1907

Vance G

#3
December 06, 2011, 11:22:38 AM
Move before the snow makes it hard on you and on as cold a day as you can find and is convienient.  Will be easier on the bees and you.  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

splitrock

#4
December 06, 2011, 11:26:46 AM

For some reason I thought I had heard if it is too cold, and the bee's cluster is broken, they may not be able to re-group.

I have a few I'd like to move home now, but was hesitant based on what I thought I knew.

Joel

Vance G

#5
December 06, 2011, 02:16:46 PM
Most commercial bees and it is a huge number get moved out of the Dakotas and Montana in the cold clustered.  Very few bees come out.

FRAMEshift

#6
December 06, 2011, 04:21:54 PM
From what I've heard of the winter losses in the North, you should wait till spring.  Then you won't have to move as many colonies.   :evil:

But maybe I shouldn't be so arrogant.   :-D  We got lucky last year and didn't lose any hives, but I don't think it will be so good this winter.
"You never can tell with bees."  --  Winnie-the-Pooh

MTWIBadger

#7
December 06, 2011, 11:39:53 PM
Depends how heavy they are and what equipment you have to move them.  My strong hives are over 200 pounds and I wouldn't dream about moving them until spring after they have slimmed down.

obfarmer

#8
December 08, 2011, 10:42:15 PM
Thank you all for your advice. My thought was that it would be easier now, but wanted some other opinions. Looking forward to having them home. Merry Christmas.

tefer2

#9
December 09, 2011, 09:41:53 AM
If its any help to ya I moved 10 two story nuc's yesterday with a hand cart and the pickup.
We just got our first snow today and I placed them behind the barn for a wind break.
I like to have the wintering nucs close by so I can watch over them.
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