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 allow the bees this time to reestablish their location, they can become lost for quite some time. They will flood out of the hive and frantically buzz about in a circular or figure-eight type of pattern, frantically trying to find their way. If they are out of the hive at the time it is moved, their circular pattern may bring them to a different hive, and that can only spell trouble.
There are still going to be some stragglers after a move, and loss of some bees may yet occur. It can be kept to a minimum if you place a clean and empty bee nucleus box as close to the old hive site as possible. Even though this is an unsettling and alien environment, it is still going to feel like home to them due to the magnetism of the Earth; and this gives you a chance to move them to the new hive.
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.
Another reason why winter is the best time is due to the fragility of their hive. The structure created by a young colony is going to be more unstable to begin with, and adding hotter weather to that factor only increases the likelihood of disaster. Moving a well-established colony on a nice cold day is going to be your best bet.
Even an experienced beekeeper can make a stupid mistake, so we really must remind new bee people that their hive needs excellent ventilation during the move. Bees can become easily overheated, and agitating them during a move causes their index to rise. Keeping the box cushioned and the car as cold as possible helps to ensure the colony makes it to their new destination alive.
The more your box is cushioned during the move the less agitated they will become. Keep spraying water in and around the ventilation holes, and keep your air conditioning turned on frigid if you can. This will help to keep your bees keep cool, calm, and alive during their journey.
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 allow the bees this time to reestablish their location, they can become lost for quite some time. They will flood out of the hive and frantically buzz about in a circular or figure-eight type of pattern, frantically trying to find their way. If they are out of the hive at the time it is moved, their circular pattern may bring them to a different hive, and that can only spell trouble.
There are still going to be some stragglers after a move, and loss of some bees may yet occur. It can be kept to a minimum if you place a clean and empty bee nucleus box as close to the old hive site as possible. Even though this is an unsettling and alien environment, it is still going to feel like home to them due to the magnetism of the Earth; and this gives you a chance to move them to the new hive.
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.
Another reason why winter is the best time is due to the fragility of their hive. The structure created by a young colony is going to be more unstable to begin with, and adding hotter weather to that factor only increases the likelihood of disaster. Moving a well-established colony on a nice cold day is going to be your best bet.
Even an experienced beekeeper can make a stupid mistake, so we really must remind new bee people that their hive needs excellent ventilation during the move. Bees can become easily overheated, and agitating them during a move causes their index to rise. Keeping the box cushioned and the car as cold as possible helps to ensure the colony makes it to their new destination alive.
The more your box is cushioned during the move the less agitated they will become. Keep spraying water in and around the ventilation holes, and keep your air conditioning turned on frigid if you can. This will help to keep your bees keep cool, calm, and alive during their journey.
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