MOVING A HIVE ACROSS THE FARM: how many did it with no problem with bees returni

adamant · May 13, 2012, 08:30:59 AM

how many did it with no problem with the bees returning to the hives original location? keep my bees on a 300 ac farm and right now they are in a apple orchard . i like to move them to another part of the farm but don't have the resources of taking them 3 miles away for sometime and them bringing them back!

how many moved them a short distance with success?

AllenF · May 13, 2012, 08:46:22 AM

I have moved hives from one end of the yard to the other and one end of the pasture to the other. In both cases I lost bees. Some are just too old and stubborn to realize they had been moved. Always move at night. I like to move during the winter. But there will be a handful of bees that return to find the hive gone.

Michael Bush · May 14, 2012, 02:36:17 AM

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmoving.htm#100yards

TwT · May 14, 2012, 06:31:49 AM

I tried blocking entrance before with no success, good idea but the older bee's know the area and will return to old spot, I move a mile away for a few weeks then return to were I want them moved to.

D Coates · May 14, 2012, 10:07:47 AM

There's a little confusion for a day or two but they figured it out. It's a whole lot easier than transporting them over 2 miles away for a few days then bringing them back like I used to do.

adamant · May 14, 2012, 10:20:32 AM

Quote from: adamant on May 13, 2012, 08:30:59 AM
how many did it with no problem with the bees returning to the hives original location? keep my bees on a 300 ac farm and right now they are in a apple orchard . i like to move them to another part of the farm but don't have the resources of taking them 3 miles away for sometime and them bringing them back!

how many moved them a short distance with success?

Thank you for your replys. Are most of you talking about moving them at night or durning the day?

D Coates · May 14, 2012, 03:16:05 PM

Early morning, but I've moved them mid day. The confusion is a little more when you move them mid day but again, they figured it out.

Bleemus · May 18, 2012, 09:07:23 AM

I ratchet strap the whole hive together during the day before moving. When it gets dark or cold enough that all the foragers have returned and bees are clustered I stick a piece of screen in the entrance. Load the hive on a dolly, roll it to new location.
Find a nice branch with lots of leaves on it and position it so that is in the flight path of bees that will be leaving. Remove the screen and go to bed. I have also left them 24 hours with the screen in and that works too.

hoxbar · May 19, 2012, 10:30:53 PM

Michael Bush's way is the only way that works for me. I've tried other ways but lost lots of bees. I cedar branch is what I use.