I need to change the entrance location on one of the hives I keep off the back porch.
Halfway through winter, a piece of duck tape that covered a hole in the hive fell off. That hole face directly onto the deck. And of course, the bees decided they much prefer that entrance to the old one at the bottom facing out the other side.
I left it alone as I did not want to add any stress or confusion during the few warm days they had for cleansing flights. And now the bees have clearly oriented to this hole. Almost to the complete exclusion of the other entrance.
I want to shift them back before it becomes a problem.
I was just going to cover the hole back up and let them figure it out. But our nights are still pretty cold. And the bees are just starting to haul water, and pollen yesterday....I think they need aer the long winter and late spring.
Best to wait for steady warmth?
Do it and stop worrying too much?
Rotate the hive slowly(this would be abit of a pain) over a few days?
I guess the main question is how much of a disturbance will forcing the entrance shift create?
Halfway through winter, a piece of duck tape that covered a hole in the hive fell off. That hole face directly onto the deck. And of course, the bees decided they much prefer that entrance to the old one at the bottom facing out the other side.
I left it alone as I did not want to add any stress or confusion during the few warm days they had for cleansing flights. And now the bees have clearly oriented to this hole. Almost to the complete exclusion of the other entrance.
I want to shift them back before it becomes a problem.
I was just going to cover the hole back up and let them figure it out. But our nights are still pretty cold. And the bees are just starting to haul water, and pollen yesterday....I think they need aer the long winter and late spring.
Best to wait for steady warmth?
Do it and stop worrying too much?
Rotate the hive slowly(this would be abit of a pain) over a few days?
I guess the main question is how much of a disturbance will forcing the entrance shift create?