Need Help........!!!!!

[Chef Isaac]

Hey guys. I am not really sure what to do about this and I wanted to ask my fellow beekeeping friends. Any adivice would be welcome!

I am thinking about taking a Chef position in LA. It would be sooner than later. I have my third interview on Monday over the phone and than might fly out and check it out. After an offer has been made and accepted, I would have one month to move.

My concern is for my bees. I have 12 colonies that overwintered, am buying 5 packages, 7 fully established hives, and 7 queens. I have also bought a lot of equipment.

I am taking my equipment with me for sure!

About the bees..... should I sell them? Should I see if a pollinator that travels could take the bees with them and drop them off my way? should I tray to take them in a flat bed truck?

What should I do???? I really need some advice as I am REALLY stressing about this....

[iddee]

With the legalities of moving them interstate for a first timer, I would sell them and buy new ones in LA. I would move all the equip. You can't get half enough from the equip. to replace it, but the bees should bring a premium this time of year.

[Michael Bush]

Selling them will be probably the simplest. I don't know what all the legalities are from there to LA.

I've always moved them when I move, but I never had but three or four hives to move. In spring weather like this it's not bad. I just put the hives in last and give them some air at each stop and check the heat in the van.

[King bee apiary]

I agree you should sell and buy more when your settled in..Your going to be in for a temp shock and longer bee season in La.

Good luck with the move!

[shawnwri]

Sell the bees. Why make those Pacific NW bees suffer in the heat down South? :)

[Panhandle Bee man]

I think LA, has some strict rules about importing bees on comb. Contacting them (LA bee inspector) may make the decsion real easy.

[Chef Isaac]

that makes me sad :(

[Chrissy Shaw]

Don't be sad. You would need to screen those bees this time of year to get through the centeral valley heat, have some way to keep them cool if you stop even for a short time. Bringing bees back up this way, we always drove straight through from Sacramento to Tacoma. We did that in April early and it iis getting towards late and hot now down there.

You could ask your shipper to hold the California packages and install them when you have a place to put them. If you do haul them all down, its 24 hours of I-5, you need a second driver and as few stops as you can. JZ always used those soaker hoses on an open load under a bee tarp, a plastic screen. If he stopped for fuel he would connect to water right away, even with the open hives they still could over heat.

The advantage is you can drive up the valley in spring and pick out the queens you want with no shipping charges. There are some expert folks in that valley that have raised queens for as many years as i have kept bees, they know their stuff, you will have a great chance to learn from some great men down there. Good luck if you take the job.

Sincerely,
Chrissy

[Chef Isaac]

I Pmed you Chrissy....

[odfrank]

I had to read his bee club post to figure this out, and I was not the only one confused. Ship bees from WA to LOUISIANA in the middle of the summer? I don't think so. Put the pedal to the metal.....

[Chef Isaac]

I wouldnt be shipping bees but rather driving them but I think the best idea would be to sell them.

[Panhandle Bee man]

Chef,

In LA you will want Italian's, plus I think for a large part of LA the main honey flow has started, some ag areas get a summer flow flow from Cotton/soybeans and stuff like that.

[flathead]

since they ain't my bees.

We will be about three hours away from you if you make the move. Willing to help anyway I can.

I have 10 Russian nucs (Charlie Harper's) coming and would let you have 5 of them to get started. Charlie could probably hold them for a few weeks until you get some wood down here. You will be about an hour and a half from Harpers.

Swarm season is in high gear and we have had good luck(caught another today) so bees are not a problem. I figured to get one or two this spring but have seven swarms hived so far.

[Chef Isaac]

Flat head: I PMed you

[Chrissy Shaw]

I am headed to work in the 36 degree rain here Chef. Let me knoow what happens here. Gonna be much warmer down that LA way.

Chrissy

[Hobie]

I feel for you. I've only had my bees for a few months, and I feel attached to them (despite the fact that they all rather look alike!). But you must do what is best for the bees, and that may mean leaving them in a climate to which they are accustomed.