Beekeeping is about more than just wearing a netted hat and moving slowly among the clover. The bee populations around the world are in serious jeopardy. Unless keepers learn to do a proper beehive relocation, then splitting or moving hives can result in another million bees lost, which for many new keepers also means less honey in the world.
Performing the move should be set for a time when the little darlings are at home. Being confined in the hive during a move will cause them to become agitated, but it should not cause them to swarm in a panic. The trick is, before reopening their lair, you want to make sure to block the door with some sticks or twigs.
If the keeper fails to keep the bees in the hive, they may spill out the opening by the thousands. A move of even a few feet may cause them to fly in a panic, whizzing about trying to find their home once more. They are much more likely to swarm and sting at this time, and if they find the wrong hive an ugly fight to the death can ensue.
For any stragglers, place an empty bee box at their old home address. Bees are creatures of habit, and even if the box is different from home, if it is in the same location they will instinctively retire inside of it sometime before dark. Once darkness has fallen, you can close the box and move them to their new home, where they get a second chance to become familiar with the new digs.
It might be best to move your little dears during the winter months. When the temperature dips below fifty degrees Fahrenheit, they tend to stay safe and snug indoors. You might be able to get them all moved and set up anew without a single one of them being out and about, which can prevent the loss of the precious foragers of their colony.
Cold months are also a better time due to the stability of the hive the bees have created. The younger the crew or the hotter the temperature, the more delicate their hive may be. Destruction of their delicate new construction can be devastating to the colony, so waiting until it is cold out, and their construction is rigid and well attached is key.
No matter what time of year they are being moved, there will need to be ventilation throughout the hive during the process. I know it seems like this should be a common sense thing, but it must be mentioned. Hives generate a great deal of energy, and they become even more heated during any process that agitates or panics them, and being able to breath certainly helps keep them cool.
Keeping water sprayed around any ventilation openings is another way to help keep the bees from overheating. A hive can generate a great deal of heat to begin with, and overheated bees are dead bees. If driving them a few miles down the road or across a field, keep spraying water, crank up the air conditioning, and be sure that your hive is set on pillows, blankets, or Styrofoam to lessen the jostle.
Performing the move should be set for a time when the little darlings are at home. Being confined in the hive during a move will cause them to become agitated, but it should not cause them to swarm in a panic. The trick is, before reopening their lair, you want to make sure to block the door with some sticks or twigs.
If the keeper fails to keep the bees in the hive, they may spill out the opening by the thousands. A move of even a few feet may cause them to fly in a panic, whizzing about trying to find their home once more. They are much more likely to swarm and sting at this time, and if they find the wrong hive an ugly fight to the death can ensue.
For any stragglers, place an empty bee box at their old home address. Bees are creatures of habit, and even if the box is different from home, if it is in the same location they will instinctively retire inside of it sometime before dark. Once darkness has fallen, you can close the box and move them to their new home, where they get a second chance to become familiar with the new digs.
It might be best to move your little dears during the winter months. When the temperature dips below fifty degrees Fahrenheit, they tend to stay safe and snug indoors. You might be able to get them all moved and set up anew without a single one of them being out and about, which can prevent the loss of the precious foragers of their colony.
Cold months are also a better time due to the stability of the hive the bees have created. The younger the crew or the hotter the temperature, the more delicate their hive may be. Destruction of their delicate new construction can be devastating to the colony, so waiting until it is cold out, and their construction is rigid and well attached is key.
No matter what time of year they are being moved, there will need to be ventilation throughout the hive during the process. I know it seems like this should be a common sense thing, but it must be mentioned. Hives generate a great deal of energy, and they become even more heated during any process that agitates or panics them, and being able to breath certainly helps keep them cool.
Keeping water sprayed around any ventilation openings is another way to help keep the bees from overheating. A hive can generate a great deal of heat to begin with, and overheated bees are dead bees. If driving them a few miles down the road or across a field, keep spraying water, crank up the air conditioning, and be sure that your hive is set on pillows, blankets, or Styrofoam to lessen the jostle.
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