Moving my Nuc to a Hive

[mnist]

Hi All

I started my own nuc a few weeks ago (two frames of brood from a strong hive + a purchased queen) in a 5 frame nuc box.

They did so well that they're actually a little crowded and I think it's time to move them into a full-size hive.

So what's the problem? I would like the hive's new location to be on the other side of my acre property. I'd like to put the new hive in the new location, carry the nuc box over to it and make the transfer.

DH (dear husband) says that's too many changes all at once and we should move the nuc box to the new spot then after a few days/a week put them in the new hive.

Opinions? ideas? argument negotiations? http://www.beesource.com/ubb/wink.gif Thanks!

[Daisy]

Just do it after all the worker bees are in for the night...

Then some folks suggest placing a hunk of something close to the entrance so the bees have to go around it to head out for the day. You might notice them doing an orientation flight. I'd probably remove this towards late morning..

I'd probably leave a box at the original site and check it later in the evening the following night to see if there were any strays that come back to this site. Then you can Transfer them to the new spot that evening.

[Michael Bush]

I probably would move the nuc at night (with everyone home) put a branch in front of it and leave it for a day and then tansfer them the next day. That way it's eaiser for them to find since it LOOKS the same. In a day they will sort it out and then changing to a larger box won't be so many things to change at once.

[odfrank]

I would move the nuc to a far away site for a month, do the transfer there, and then bring them back to the new location. More work but no lost bees.

[Oxankle]

Mnist:

If you move your bees across the yard, all the field bees will go back to the old spot and you will probably lose them. At best you will have a confused mess in the sky at the old location until they find a hive to settle into. At worse you will just lose them.

Move them away at least 5 miles. Put a branch or a bunch of grass in front of the hive so they know they've been moved. In a week bring them back to the location you choose at home and again put a leafy branch in front of the entrance for a day.

You can make this move before or after you put them in the l0-frame hive. The two events have nothing to do with each other.
Ox

[mnist]

Hey thanks for your advice, everyone. After even more discussion we decided they'd be just as well off in their old place.

I'd read about the branch trick somewhere before and I'll probably use it someday. Oxankle, what you described was also something I worried about. I don't like the idea of homeless bees.

Once I get myself motivated to update my blog I'll post the url and let you see the photos of My First Nuc http://www.beesource.com/ubb/smile.gif

--Madeleine

[This message has been edited by mnist (edited May 30, 2004).]

[mmundy]

Might sound crazy, but I make it easier for my bees to find their hive by painting them other colors besides white. OK, I have one beige hive, but the others are bright blue, flourescant yellow and orange. My nuc is pale yellow. Pictures here: http://www.geocities.com/libertybees/Mundy.html

Last year I did my 1st split and the new hive went to the left of the old one. After a week, I suspected that many bees were returning to the old one, so I switched their locations at night. After a few days they seem to have equalized their numbers.

I have done some minor shifts in the yard by simply placing grass and twigs at the entrance.

Beekeeping is NOT an exact science, and the bees generally are forgiving of our experiments.

------------------
Michael Mundy

[Michael Bush]

Bees never stay homeless in a bee yard. They move in with someone. The branch is so they will reorient and remember where they came from. Some always go back to the old site for a day, but if you put an empty box there you can collect them after dark and bring them back to the new spot by puttin the box next to the new spot and putting a branch in front again. After a day they quit doing it.