Moving Hives

[papabear]

This is a feral colony that found my boxes in a horse barn last fall. There is some burr comb in it. #1 Do I need to remove the burr comb before I move it or leave it?                                                               #2 When is the best time to move the hive? I have to move it about 400 to 500 yards. Thanks.

[Jerrymac]

I would say to leave the burr comb as it will support everything during the move. If your temps are staying above 50 F you could probably close them up and move them at night. Place something in front of the entrance so they will know to orientate  to their new place. After a few days to calm down then go clean up the burr comb..... But could be there will be brood in the burr comb also.

[papabear]

There is brood in the comb.

[Michael Bush]

I'd either move it after they've been confined for a few days from the cold or move it after it warms up.  The problem is the confused bees that go back to the old location in cold weather often don't get the time to sort out what went wrong and find their way back.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmoving.htm