slopfront
Reddit, read-only. No JavaScript. No cookies. No tracking.
preferences
Saved in links, not cookies.

Moving backyard hive

11 points · submitted Jan 2015 by u/lambda_foo · archived

This might be a bit late since I already moved the hive but...

So when I initially got my hive last year I placed it in a nice clear, north facing position where it gets good sun for most of the day except late afternoon. Perfect spot I thought.

Then the kids got a trampoline and the best spot for that was where the hive was. So last night I moved the hive about 5m away, with the entrance facing north east and onto a fence so they have to fly up and over the neighbouring yards. Another perfect spot I thought given the space available.

This morning I went out to check on the bees and they seemed to be a bit upset. Outside the hive they're swarming a bit and back at the old location to the hive there are quite a few bees. Did I do something wrong? Should I have moved it further away?

12 comments · 78% upvoted · other discussions

comments

Read-only. Use the arrows to collapse threads.

Lurk_No_More 3 points · Jan 2015

Here's a good guide on moving bees:

http://www.honeybeesuite.com/how-to-move-a-hive/

I'm still a first year beek, but was told by more experienced friends that the hive should be moved far away, or slowly if going to a closer location.

Putting some grass or small branches in front of the entrance makes them do orientation flights again.

Maybe you can move your bees back. Good luck.

edit: bees back into the hive

lambda_foo [OP] 2 points · Jan 2015

When I came back home last night, there were no bees where the old hive was. This morning they are mostly going to the new hive, with a few flying via the old hive location. None of them are swarming at the old hive location or landing on the ground around where it was.

I've put a plant blocking the entrance like people suggested so hoping my mistake won't be too bad for my pet bees.

lambda_foo [OP] 1 points · Jan 2015

I'm hoping they'll find the new hive during the day but if they don't I'll try gathering them up when it's dark from the old location. Then try the small branches tip. Thanks

resplendent11 1 points · Jan 2015

I moved my hive next door. Like 30ft. 100% less than ideal. I did it at night and did the branch in front of the entrance thing, and had only a couple dozen lost bees on the first day. They figured it out by day 2.

Ciene 2 points · Jan 2015 · Mod

I would have covered the entrance with a branch or grass or w/e. They might be doing a orientation flight/ going back to their old location. You should be fine.

Var1abl3 2 points · Jan 2015 · Default

I moved mine over the weekend. I screened the door for 3 days to not allow the bees to fly. On the evening of the 3rd day I pulled the screen. Never saw a bee go to the old spot. Something about being locked in the hive for a few days force them to re-orient.

[deleted] 1 points · Jan 2015

Yes I agree with Ciene that is what we do, add a branch to front of the hive. We talk about that in this blog post:- http://kiwimana.co.nz/moving-beehives-a-short-distance/

lambda_foo [OP] 1 points · Jan 2015

Thanks for the link. I've added your blog to my feeds, it's hard to find good information for our corner of the globe (I'm in Sydney).

[deleted] 1 points · Jan 2015

No worries, yes thanks for following. We also have a Beekeeping podcast if you listen to them...Gary

[deleted] 1 points · Jan 2015

Good grief! I can hardly believe it went so well, even though they got confused!

Moving bees is a big deal. The best way is to put a screen over the entrance in the middle of the night, and move the hive and wait 48 hours and then put a big branch over the entrance and remove the screen so that they have to fly through it so that they think their tree has been knocked down and that tells them to re-orient themselves.

Then after a few days remove the branch.

lambda_foo [OP] 2 points · Jan 2015

Dumb luck strikes again.

They've been super happy with all the warm weather and flowering gum trees. Haven't opened the hive since but activity at the entrance is looking busy.

Chickens1 -1 points · Jan 2015

5 miles away for two weeks, then you move it back to wherever you want in your yard.