For those new to the notion of keeping a hive of swarming bees as pets, to pollinate produce, or just to save the Earth; there is much to learn. Safe handling of the hives seems reasonably simple, but a wrong move or improperly donned bee suit can spell a minor disaster. With so many hives collapsing around the world, it is more important than ever for keepers to know how to do a safe and successful beehive relocation.
What must be understood about these most sophisticated creatures is that they require a period of reorientation when a hive is moved. Even if it is only being shifted a few feet away, it is a good idea to cover the hive with a small faggot of sticks. This temporary containment causes them to begin reorientation immediately, as they are tricked into thinking that a branch has fallen over the entrance.
This temporary block will actually trick your bees into reorienting themselves BEFORE they leave the hive. Successful reorientation starts inside the hive, then continues out as they try to get a feel for what has changed about their environment. This process, performed successfully by both the bees and their keeper, can prevent catastrophic bee loss.
For any stragglers, place an empty bee box at their old home address. Bees are creatures of habit, and even if the box is different from home, if it is in the same location they will instinctively retire inside of it sometime before dark. Once darkness has fallen, you can close the box and move them to their new home, where they get a second chance to become familiar with the new digs.
Like humans, bees can get quite cranky during cold months, and they prefer to stay indoors if it falls below 50 degrees F. For this reason, moving them during a pleasant, but frigid winter day might be ideal. You will still want to place the sticks in front of the hive after it is opened up again, however, just to make sure they go through their normal process.
Cold months are also a better time due to the stability of the hive the bees have created. The younger the crew or the hotter the temperature, the more delicate their hive may be. Destruction of their delicate new construction can be devastating to the colony, so waiting until it is cold out, and their construction is rigid and well attached is key.
Whether it is a winter afternoon or a summer morning at 5:00 AM, ventilation holes are more than just a good common-sense notion. Too small for them to escape, but large enough for the entire colony to breath is the idea. This is especially true if the move is going to be a long distance, as this just might involve shaking the box up during transit.
Spraying water regularly at the areas of ventilation is also helpful when it comes to keeping them cooled down. Even if you are performing this move on a sleety winter night during the New Moon, water is still important to your success. Crank up the air conditioning, drive slow, and keep their air holes moistened, and you just might get a live hive to their new home.
What must be understood about these most sophisticated creatures is that they require a period of reorientation when a hive is moved. Even if it is only being shifted a few feet away, it is a good idea to cover the hive with a small faggot of sticks. This temporary containment causes them to begin reorientation immediately, as they are tricked into thinking that a branch has fallen over the entrance.
This temporary block will actually trick your bees into reorienting themselves BEFORE they leave the hive. Successful reorientation starts inside the hive, then continues out as they try to get a feel for what has changed about their environment. This process, performed successfully by both the bees and their keeper, can prevent catastrophic bee loss.
For any stragglers, place an empty bee box at their old home address. Bees are creatures of habit, and even if the box is different from home, if it is in the same location they will instinctively retire inside of it sometime before dark. Once darkness has fallen, you can close the box and move them to their new home, where they get a second chance to become familiar with the new digs.
Like humans, bees can get quite cranky during cold months, and they prefer to stay indoors if it falls below 50 degrees F. For this reason, moving them during a pleasant, but frigid winter day might be ideal. You will still want to place the sticks in front of the hive after it is opened up again, however, just to make sure they go through their normal process.
Cold months are also a better time due to the stability of the hive the bees have created. The younger the crew or the hotter the temperature, the more delicate their hive may be. Destruction of their delicate new construction can be devastating to the colony, so waiting until it is cold out, and their construction is rigid and well attached is key.
Whether it is a winter afternoon or a summer morning at 5:00 AM, ventilation holes are more than just a good common-sense notion. Too small for them to escape, but large enough for the entire colony to breath is the idea. This is especially true if the move is going to be a long distance, as this just might involve shaking the box up during transit.
Spraying water regularly at the areas of ventilation is also helpful when it comes to keeping them cooled down. Even if you are performing this move on a sleety winter night during the New Moon, water is still important to your success. Crank up the air conditioning, drive slow, and keep their air holes moistened, and you just might get a live hive to their new home.
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