How would you relocate a hive?

[Brian]

So my question is how would you relocate a hive that is about 25 feet from where you want it to be?
In the picture you can see my set up. The closest hive  in the picture is location #12
I lost hive #6 this year, in the middle of all the others. Robbed out completely by the neighbors Russians (my best guess, black and shiny and really hungry)
I want to move hive #12 to sit in the #6 spot on the rail base with the others. It's on blocks and doing just fine but I would like it to be on the rail base that has eye bolts for a strap downs
Would you guys and girls take a minute to advise me how you all would go about the moving process?

[Gypsi]

I'd close them up at night, move them where I want them, leave them closed for 24 hours, open small opening and hang a twig on the front porch partway covering the exit, so they know to re-orient.  All of this depends on whether you can lift that stack in one move and not trip on anything in the dark

[iddee]

I would move it in Dec. or Jan. when the forecast has a high of 40 or less for 3 days.

[Perry]

Wait till cold and gently move as Iddee suggested, or move them now and place a bunch of branches and such for them to have to go through as they exit so they re-orient. A catch box will probably be needed as well for a few days.
I've never personally cooped up a hive for 24 hours so have no idea what this might do to the demeanor of the hive, but I'm sure they wouldn't be happy! 

[Riverrat]

yep Iddee has the plan that is easiest and gypsies will work to. Just depends on how much you want to work at it

[brooksbeefarm]

Myself, i'd put a concrete block on the lid and leave it, then next year put a split where #6 was. At my age i don't need the bother. Jack

[tbonekel]

The other good thing about waiting is to have as little honey in there as possible. If I had to move any of mine right now, it might do me in.

[Gypsi]

One thing is for sure, do NOT take a hive apart at night for a move and fail to tape your gloves.  I had virtually no choice on a 2 box hive move and I can't lift a 2 box hive by myself, and I forgot to tape the gloves to my sleeves.  OUCH.  Saved them from mosquito spray, but opening a hive at night for any reason is risky business, and carrying it with crawlers (couldn't seal, they were bearding, no screened bottom board), oh yeah, it was NOT fun

[Brian]

Good thing we  enjoy beekeeping otherwise it might seem too much like Work... right?
For me There a gift from God. Hundreds of thousands of workers working for me for free. Wonderful!!
Hey thank you all for the input

I like the low stress approaches


Lighter in January but I want to do it now
Think it will be a night ops transfer with something to slow them down at the entrance

..24 hours on lock down? What happens if I don't do that?
And
Remember the Russians? Anyone wanna guess if they might return? Last seen over 30 days ago

[Gypsi]

If night ops, chase any front porch bees in with your smoker right at sunset and staple on screening.
Take a 2nd person to help lift, suited.  And if going far a white sheet to wrap the whole shebang up with.  That is mainly for transport via back of pickup truck. And wear boots, with your beesuit inside the boot, and if the top of the boot isn't tight, duct tape the suit to the boots.

[riverbee]

brian,
are you able to move the hive as one unit?  or are you going to have to separate the boxes to move them?

robbing....the russians, consider that your own hives are robbing as well.  any weak or weaker hive will be robbed out by stronger hives irregardless of the strain or breed of bees. upon moving i would put measures in place to protect this hive as best you can from robbers.

[Alleyyooper]

I do like Gypsi does, and to make moves so much easier I use my garden wagon. Just right to slide a hive off my standsand onto a different one.
I bought this soon after I started keeping bees and one out yard was sort of low so if I drove the pick up in there in the spring I cut ruts some times and once it even settled to the point I thought I was going to have to call a tow.





Kare also has a lot of gardens so it is handy for her to move mulch and other gardening needs.

   Al

[Gypsi]

Like that wagon!

[Alleyyooper]

It and the hive carrier has been a back saver.

   Al

[LazyBkpr]

 A little late but here goes;

    If I had to move a hive that far.. I would just move it..  At one point I would have waited until dark to do so. Now, I would simply place it where I wanted it... Provided it was a decently strong hive.. the foragers returning will find it, or they will choose another hive to enter..   I have had enough getting the bejeepers stung out of me when removing screens swarming with really upset bees in the morning..   

   


   Going to make another one of these with a wheel or two on it.. still trying to figure out the best way to make the wheel adjustable..

[Gypsi]

Love the hive toter Lazy.  I consider every bee an investment around here, with the drought I am burning money, so losing a field force (in my vast apiary of 3 hives) is a significant loss.  With a big apiary, the girls with the groceries will certainly get in somewhere.

I got the bejeepers stung out of me this spring getting a hive out of pantego in advance of mosquito spraying, hence the tips for everything I forgot.  Sold that hive 3 days later too..