how to move a hive

**whalers** · 08-30-2012, 07:55 AM

I've just moved a nuc to my beeyard. I've read different things about what to do after moving them. Do I leave them closed up for a day, lay grass in front of the entrance?????? Just need a straight answer here. Thanks.

**pom51** · 08-30-2012, 08:30 AM

when I move my hives I wait about one hour to let them settle down a bit thin i remove what is in the entrance, but I move them over a mile from last location, they will take ortination flight and bee on their way soon after that storing pollen and necter

**Andrew Dewey** · 08-30-2012, 09:24 AM

Presuming the bees have been moved at least 3 miles from their previous location, there is nothing special that you need to do. Just let them fly. I don't wait the hour mentioned above. If the move is at night most of the time the bees won't even come out to see what is going on until the morning.

**whalers** · 08-30-2012, 09:59 AM

The move was early morning. Just enough sunlight to see and they were only move about 150 feet.

**Paul McCarty** · 08-30-2012, 10:23 AM

Put a board or obstruction across the entrance and totally remove EVERYTHING from the old location. Even the hive stand. They will fly around a lot and be confused, but will eventually find it or another hive. Should take about a week. In an emergency (as in being robbed), I have just moved them with nothing and kept them closed up for a few days.

**rhetoric** · 08-30-2012, 08:59 PM

I moved three hives this year. One about 10 yards (split) and two about 200 yards. The 200 yard bees were swarms from a neighbor's hives so they are very near their original home. I put clippings of grass on the landing lip of the hive, but more importantly, I stacked brush and twigs outside the entrance. leaning against the hive, criss crossed and etc. The bees, as I understand it, are confused by the change and re-set their GPS. I suppose it's possible that I lost a few bees, but all four hives are thriving!

**minz** · 08-31-2012, 01:41 PM

Last Tuesday I had a repairman coming to work on my heat pump so stapled hardware cloth across the opening and jammed it into the grape arbor in case it leaked (blocked the entire hive in brush). It ‘leaked’ I had 2 LBS of bees on the stoop where I moved it from 50 yards away. The old hives were leaking also so the repairman was good about it and worked in my bee hood. I worked next to him with short sleeves and no protection so he felt comfortable the entire time.
Move it down the road a couple of miles and bring it back (it is what I should have done like all the other times).
How do you guys move full hives? Double deep without equipment seems impossible.

**JRG13** · 08-31-2012, 02:27 PM

What do you mean equipment? I moved mine as a 4 box deep + hive top feeder, just took two of us to lift it into the truck (it's raised) and it was pretty tough though but we got it in there. This was just after Summer flow. I just screen the entrance, and since I have slats for handles that bridge the gap between each set of boxes, I add two more screws to hold the upper box to it as they're all screwed into the lower box. Screw down the top cover, ready to move, just use a strap or two to lock the whole thing down in the truck and you're golden. I moved it 30 miles as a 3 box deep the same way, never any issues. I've moved the hive 4 times this year, done it every time that way no issues. I could lift it as a double but two people should do it if you have to carry it any distance.