[11x]

i am moving a hive tomorow. i have the hive straped togather with rachet straps and a entrance reducer in. tomorow just befor dark i plan on blocking the entrance and loading the hive and bringing it home and setting it up. should i wait till the morning before i reopen the hive or do it at night. should i put something infront of the entrance to make them re orientate? the hive is about 4 or 5 miles from here.

 

[Ruben]

If you are moving it several miles they will reorient on thier own. Make sure no bees are flying back in before you move the colony. You should block the entrance and when you set it up on its new stand you might want to wait 10 minutes before opening the entrance to give them time to calm down. Or you could open the next morning. Also wear a vail.

 

[AmericasBeekeeper]

When you block it up you understand they need air as living creatures. The longer they are sealed in the higher the carbon dioxide and heat increase. screen will allow some air in, it will not help the heat much. I just moved 4 hives today in the cab of my truck, no screen, no block, no fear! The perfect solution would be a screened botttom board and moving screen for a cover. I used to have a dozen hives in the back of my dad's Belvedere station wagon. I run the air on high to keep them cool and wear a jacket. Check out migratory beekeepers moving.

 

[Beeslave]

If you are using a pickup don't worry about blocking the entrance. At dark or when it is cool enough they are all back in do as follows. Get on veil and garb, light smoker, start truck(vibrations will keep bees in hive when you set it down), smoke hive, place smoker in truck bed(so you don't forget it), pick up hive and place in back of truck, strap it down, walk in front of truck by headlights, shake any bees that are on you off(they will fly to the headlights), get in truck, take off veil, drive to new yard and leave truck running, garb up again, relight smoker if you snuffed it out, smoke hive, unstrap hive(not the strap holding the hive together) and place in new spot, de-bee in front of lights again, get in truck, unveil and go home. When you go back to the hive again you can unstrap what is holding it together.

 

[Jeffzhear]

If I don't want to lose stragglers when moving hives around dark, or just don't want to deal with honeybees walking around or flying while I am moving them, I cut a piece of steel screen about 4 inches wide x the width of the front entrance and bend it (don't crease it) in half length wise and push it in with the bent part going in the box first. I use my hive tool to push it in and seal the entrance to keep the bees in. This provides ventilation and keeps the bees contained. I typically remove the telescoping covers and use flat covers nailed down in the four corners. I don't nail the nails in all the way; it makes it much easier to remove the flat covers when I get the hives to their destination.

 

[be lote]

we bend the screen wire in to the hive. we have old top covers cut out except the frame an have screen wire across the top we put on bout a couple days before we move em. cant leave em on perminate cause they will block em solid. we put cover on an wait to nite. take lid off while transportin. remember to bring the lids.

 

[11x]

i have a screaned bottem board with a entrance reducer in on the 4 inch opening. i am going out there today to plug the hole in the inner cover and strap the hive back togather. at dusk i will take a piece of wood with screws in it and block the 4'' hole in the reducer. the reducer fits fery tight and is propalised and wont come out with out lifting the hive from the bottom board so i am not woried about it coming lose. i am having a friend help me carry the hive about 70 yards down over a hill. the yard is to soft to drive in today. i have a pickup but was going to use the wifes minivan because it rides alot smoother than my truck.

 

[fish_stix]

Just do it like you originally posted. Strap the hive, screen or block the entrance and move them. You're only moving a short distance, not to California!

 

[NasalSponge]

A good cheap way to block the entrence and still provide air is to use steel wool.

 

[tct1w]

Seems like everyone covered everything well. I take mine to the mountains for sourwood and seal them up at night and do the transport in the early morning. One quick word of advise. Messing with the girls at night,ie headlights on vehicle,they get testy real quick. Just talking from experience. Peace Dave

 

[11x]

thanks for all the advise. it went super smooth. the girls are back home and the entrances opened for morning. not 1 bee flying during the hole process. i guess i was making a big deal out of nothing, lesson learned