I have 4 hives which I just started this year from packages. I have placed the hives a little to close to my garden, and have been chased out a few times by the bees. I would like to know if I could move the bees this winter about 50 yards from where they are now and what are the consequences.
Thanks, Mike
You could move them now.
They can be moved a few feet, 3-5', every day or two. Move them a little at a time so that they can orientate.
Or, if they are strong in population you can make a drift divide so that they can be moved all at one time. (The drift divide could have been done last summer.)
Good Luck,
Ernie Lucas Apiaries
Do you have a friend or family member 5 miles from you that would let you put them at their place for a week or two?Then you could move them back in the location you want them.Less hassel.
I think you could move them in the winter, but the danger is to break the cluster when it is too cold for them to regroup - you could kill a number of them and the queen might be one of the killed. So you'd want to make sure they could reform the cluster if you broke it when bumping or banging the hive during movement.
Maybe if you timed the weather right, you could do it. It never gets cold in in FL, so I don't have the luxury of actually trying this, but if I did - this is what I'd do.
Watch the weather reports - I'd be looking for at least one full day where the high is about 55 or 60, but where it is expected to turn colder. Screen them up after dark one night, and move them in the AM. LEAVE THEM SCREENED. It should be warm enough during the day for them to recluster if a problem, but weather is expected to be colder for the next few days. Just leave them screened in until it turns cold (at least 3 days). Then once it is cold, go open the screen, so that during the next warm spell they can go out.
This way that can reform the cluster, and they've been held inside for long enough, that they'll lose their orientation to the old location. The cold weather will help in this regard.
Here in FL, I'd just move them elsewhere for a week or two, and then move them back to the yard's new location. They wouldn't care a bit if I did that. If you can move them to a distant location, that is the easiest, and most foolproof.
Move the 3 strongest hives at dusk. Leave the weakest for one week, then move it at dusk. It will strengthen the weak one and the few left when it is moved will eventually find their home.
couldn't you just move the whole hive as one piece (using one of those lifter gadgets) in the dead of winter when they wouldn't be going outside at all?
Few feet at a time would work nicely, or wait until night fall and screen them and move them the next morning or that night. Or... wait until Nov and move them.
Michaelarch,Take my advice only in warm weather,for some reason I didn!t see that you want to do this in the winter[not reading the whole question]:doh:Sorry.I!d go with what Iddee says:scratch:
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Beesource Beekeeping Forums
1.8M posts
54.7K members
Since 1999
A forum community dedicated to beekeeping, bee owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about breeding, honey production, health, behavior, hives, housing, adopting, care, classifieds, and more!