hive moving scenario

[lazy shooter]

I have one hive that is about four miles from my home apiary, and I want to move it to my home in the next two weeks.  The  hive is sitting under a tree in a large pasture so egress to the hive is no problem.  I have a low bed, single axel trailer with a floor height of approximately 18 inches.  The  hive is sitting on eight-inch cinder blocks, so there is a difference of approximately 10 inches in height.  My initial plan is to back my trailer to within an inch or two of the hive, on the non entrance side of the hive box.  Then simply take the hive apart and stack it on the trailer in reverse order.  Now the complete hive is on the trailer and the entrance is 10 inches higher and about 24 to 30 inches laterally from its origin.  Leave the hive sitting on the trailer like this for a couple of days.  Then close the entrance and top vent with 1/8-inch hardware cloth and drive home.  Strap the hive to the trailer with some good ratchet straps and drive those girls to my home. 

Once they are home, I can set the hive up with some brush in front of the entrance and the bees will reorientate to the new location.  Will this work?

[efmesch]

Sounds like a lot of extraneous work for a very minor project.
Why not invite a brave friend to join you for an envigorating project.  Drive your low bed up as planned toward evening (when all the girls are already home),with a little smoke judiciously applied outside, get them all to move inside and plug the entrances. Strap the supers together and with the help of your friend lift the hive onto the trailer and drive it to your appointed location.  Take it of the wagon together and remove the plugs and replace them with a few twigs for reorientatioin.
The whole project, should take about half an hour of work time plus the time to drive 4 miles.

[Slowmodem]

You saved me some typing, Ef!  That's exactly what I was going to say.   

[iddee]

And, if you can't find a helper, just back to about a foot from the hive, lift the back of the hive, slide a 2ft. X 2ft. piece of plywood under the hive 3 or 4 inches and let it rest on the trailer. It will give you the clearance to slide the strap under the hive. Then ""dog-walk"" it onto the trailer. Unload the same way.

I would NOT take the hive apart.

[LazyBkpr]

agree with everyone else.   I made a carrier, but in that situation a scrap piece of plywood and a two wheel cart will do..   Rathcet streap the hive together, slide the plywood under, then the cart lip.. roll back on trailer and set down.   OFF you go!

[apisbees]

Moving the hive 4 miles Forget the twigs the bees will reorient when they come out of the hive anyway with out them. The branch trick is for when the hive is moved a very short distance less than a mile.

[lazy shooter]

And, if you can't find a helper, just back to about a foot from the hive, lift the back of the hive, slide a 2ft. X 2ft. piece of plywood under the hive 3 or 4 inches and let it rest on the trailer. It will give you the clearance to slide the strap under the hive. Then ""dog-walk"" it onto the trailer. Unload the same way.

I would NOT take the hive apart.

Excellent idea, I hadn't thought of how to load it by myself.  I only have one bee jacket at this location, and I do not want to get anyone stung, even a big old he man.

[Riverrat]

a couple ratchet straps around the hive and use the top cover as the lift point. Load on trailer at night and be gone.

[riverbee]

and then there's me..........
i have moved double deeps and have taken the hive apart and loaded in reverse order,  (so extra bottom board, 2nd deep, 1st deep, inner cover, outer cover, might skip this in hot weather, strap down, straps placed underneath the new bottom board before loading..... loaded them in a trailer or the back of my jeep or a truck, taken them to the spot i want to move them to within hours (the same day); and then unloaded and placed in the correct order; original bottom board or fresh clean one if you'd like, 1st deep, 2nd deep, etc...........no branches, no twigs......done, all good..... .............