« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: moving bees  (Read 5932 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline denise1952

  • Regular Member
  • **
  • Posts: 43
  • Gender: Female
  • Location: barnsley england
moving bees
« on: May 12, 2014, 10:27:17 am »
hi all need a bit of advice please, I need to move my bees but only place I can move them to is on my allotment (large garden) the problem is it is only a mile from where they are now if I move them and keep them sut up a few day for them to settle down will they be ok other than that will have to get rid of them
      thanks denise
Logged

Offline tmrschessie

  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 177
  • Thanked: 1 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Nebraska
Re: moving bees
« Reply #1 on: May 12, 2014, 10:51:53 am »
Make sure you give them some water and feed if necessary ...sugar water inside the hive works good and you should have no problem moving them open them in about 3 days and your off and running again. Tom
Logged

Offline denise1952

  • Regular Member
  • **
  • Posts: 43
  • Gender: Female
  • Location: barnsley england
Re: moving bees
« Reply #2 on: May 12, 2014, 10:54:43 am »
thanks for that advice tom
  thanks denise
Logged

Offline pistolpete

  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 786
  • Thanked: 20 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Chilliwack, British Columbia
Re: moving bees
« Reply #3 on: May 12, 2014, 11:30:47 am »
If you wait for a couple of days of solid rain, you would only have to keep them screened for a day.   Make sure that they have adequate ventilation.   Worst case you lose a few foragers.
Logged
My advice: worth price charged :)

Offline riverbee

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 8924
  • Thanked: 410 times
  • Gender: Female
  • ***Forum Sponsor***
  • Location: El Paso Twp, Wisconsin
Re: moving bees
« Reply #4 on: May 12, 2014, 11:52:32 am »
denise, sorry to hear you have to move your bees.  what i would do is move them late in the day, at dusk, to get as many foragers as you can in. screen them in, then move them to your garden. you can leave the screen on overnight, but go back early in the morning and remove it, they will pour out of the hive and reorient.  like others said, feed if need be, and give them water.  there really is no need to keep them locked in for 3 days.

keep us posted on how the move goes for you!
Logged
i keep wild things in a box..........™
if you obey the rules, you miss all the fun.....katherine hepburn
Forum Sponsor

Offline efmesch

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1695
  • Thanked: 201 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Israel
Re: moving bees
« Reply #5 on: May 12, 2014, 12:07:19 pm »
You can place a nuc hive with a frame or two of honey combs at the exact spot where the hive stood before the move.   Any stragglers left behind and any bees that don't re-orientate as desired, will collect there.
Then---if their numbers are significant, take the nuc to a distant location (over 8 km, 5 mi). from BOTH positions and let them learn that new  spot.  After a week, you can bring the nuc to your chosen location and merge the bees with their old family.
Logged

Offline LazyBkpr

  • Global Moderator
  • Gold Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 6842
  • Thanked: 205 times
  • Gender: Male
  • www.outyard.net
    • The Outyard
  • Location: Richland Iowa
Re: moving bees
« Reply #6 on: May 12, 2014, 12:19:54 pm »
Some good advice.
   I often have reason to move bees a short distance. Simply re orienting the hive, AND blocking the entrance with a piece of plywood etc has worked very well for me.  I have recently read to use a piece of old window pane, and that it will also work against robber bees. I have not tried this yet, but have pulled panes from an old farm house window to give it a go.
   Anything to STOP the bees and make them go around so they realize something is different.
   I have read accounts where this did not work. it has always worked for me, but bees will be bees and do things their own way, so keep an eye on the old location in case they begin gathering there.
Logged
Drinking RUM before noon makes you a PIRATE not an alcoholic!

*Sponsor*

Offline Lburou

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 2284
  • Thanked: 315 times
  • Location: DFW area, Texas, USA, growing zone 7a
Re: moving bees
« Reply #7 on: May 12, 2014, 12:50:11 pm »
I move bees short distances all the time.  A leafy branch in front of the entrance works for my bees.  It causes them to reorient as they exit.  Stragglers can always find a new home.  :)
Logged
Lee_Burough

Offline blueblood

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1768
  • Thanked: 39 times
  • Gender: Male
    • https://www.facebook.com/scottshoneyandlipbalms
  • Location: Central Indiana, USA
Re: moving bees
« Reply #8 on: May 12, 2014, 01:30:07 pm »
 
Quote from: efmesch on May 12, 2014, 12:07:19 pm
You can place a nuc hive with a frame or two of honey combs at the exact spot where the hive stood before the move.   Any stragglers left behind and any bees that don't re-orientate as desired, will collect there.
Then---if their numbers are significant, take the nuc to a distant location (over 8 km, 5 mi). from BOTH positions and let them learn that new  spot.  After a week, you can bring the nuc to your chosen location and merge the bees with their old family.

 :agree:
Logged

Offline denise1952

  • Regular Member
  • **
  • Posts: 43
  • Gender: Female
  • Location: barnsley england
Re: moving bees
« Reply #9 on: May 12, 2014, 05:55:55 pm »
thanks all for your good advice i'm moving them this week so will let you all know how they go on hope they will be ok  just worried im going to loose them
  thanks again all for advice
                                denise
 
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »