Hive placing

[ShinySideUp]

I may have made a small mistake with the placing of my new hives. I have two hives each on their own benches and each bench has space for another hive alongside. However I think I have placed the two benches too close to each other. One of the benches is fixed into the ground and cannot be moved and is close to the fence I built around the apiary which also cannot be moved. The other bench is less than a metre from the first but both hives are on the left of each bench putting the hives about a metre apart. I want to move the moveable bench to the other side of the apiary, about three metres away.

How far can I move it without the bees losing their way back and how often can I move it? I don't want to move the whole lot three miles away and move it back later and I'm in no hurry either. It's just that swarm control and general handling would be much easier if I had more room between hives.

 

[mjt68]

I may have made a small mistake with the placing of my new hives. I have two hives each on their own benches and each bench has space for another hive alongside. However I think I have placed the two benches too close to each other. One of the benches is fixed into the ground and cannot be moved and is close to the fence I built around the apiary which also cannot be moved. The other bench is less than a metre from the first but both hives are on the left of each bench putting the hives about a metre apart. I want to move the moveable bench to the other side of the apiary, about three metres away.

How far can I move it without the bees losing their way back and how often can I move it? I don't want to move the whole lot three miles away and move it back later and I'm in no hurry either. It's just that swarm control and general handling would be much easier if I had more room between hives.

Move it about 3 feet at a time. Bees can cope with small changes but moving it all 3 metres would mean returning foragers would lose their hive and drift to the other.

 

[ShinySideUp]

Move it about 3 feet at a time. Bees can cope with small changes but moving it all 3 metres would mean returning foragers would lose their hive and drift to the other.

How long should I wait between moves? Do foragers get used to the new position of do I have to wait until they die and a new batch go flying?

 

[Dadnlad]

Three feet every 2-3 days with the entrance in the same direction works for me

 

[enrico]

Leave it till winter and do it in one hit hen the weather is cold and they are not flying for a few weeks
E

 

[ShinySideUp]

Leave it till winter and do it in one hit hen the weather is cold and they are not flying for a few weeks
E

That sounds sensible.

 

[colinc]

Doesn't help this years manipulations though. Move to the opposite end of the bench then 3 days later move the bench. Then 3 days later slide along the bench again and you will have your gap.


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