[mrspock]

A friend is no longer able to beek, and has asked me to take his hive.

As I see it, it should be fairly straightforward: Plug front entrance, load supers into Van, strap supers together. SBB should provide ventilation.

What I don't understand is how to avoid stranding foraging bees at the site of origin.

Any advice?

 

[duck_nutt]

block the entrance at night when they're all home
you will not strand any

 

[D Coates]

If you can plug the hive after dark or before light you'll get the entire foraging population. Move them over 2 miles from the original location. Once in their final position remove the plug and the foragers will re-orient. It's pretty easy, straight forward, and the hive is completely back to normal with a couple of days.

 

[mrspock]

block the entrance at night when they're all home
you will not strand any

Well *of course*!!

Feel silly for not seeing that.

 

[David LaFerney]

If you don't really need/want to move them a mile or two away put the hive in a relatively cool dark place for 24 hours (I use my garage) before you let them out and they will stay put in the new spot. Works for me anyway.