Move hive to new area of garden

SteveG · Dec 4, 2017

Evening, I need to move a hive approx 220mtrs this winter.
Question, after 4 or 5 days of cold, no fly days can i seal and just move late / early one day??
Thanks in advance.

Millet · Dec 4, 2017

Whats 220 mtrs ? .. 240yrds maybe ? , anyway if you get a prolonged spell of bad weather go for it and put a pork sausage over the entrance to confuse any flying bees that have lost there body warmers.

Ignore me by the way..

, however if the weather is cold for a good few weeks go for it but here, one day its frosty and the next the bees are flying so i could not do what you need to do, if in doubt move them 3 mile away and stick them back where you want them when spring arrives.

SteveG · Dec 4, 2017

sausages bought

ok, so it's the 3 miles for few weeks and back..
thought so, as you say -2 one day +10 next..
Cheers

nightshade · Dec 4, 2017

A pork sausage millet?..really..?..cooked or raw??

jenkinsbrynmair · Dec 4, 2017

SteveG said:
Evening, I need to move a hive approx 220mtrs this winter.
Question, after 4 or 5 days of cold, no fly days can i seal and just move late / early one day??
Thanks in advance.

yes. wait for a prolonged period of cold, move them trying not to shake them about then, if you're really worried lean a few twiggy branches or a crown board against the entrance to 'confuse' them and make them reorientate.
Bees tend to reorientate after a few days confinement regardless. If you think it's going to get (relatively) warmer straight after the move, shut them in for a few days, it won't do them any harm at this time of year.

SteveG · Dec 5, 2017

Thanks, just need few days with cold. Will keep closed for few days after move sounds good.

Bakerbee · Dec 5, 2017

Hi steveg, i moved mine and found closing them up (with bit of ventilation but no escape) for 24hrs then placing 4 or five fern fronds in front of exit early a.m. then opening them up was all that was needed. They all came out orientated and are now happy in their new site. Good luck.

Ely · Dec 5, 2017

Put a nuc in the original spot. I've never had 100% percent of the bees reorientating when I've dabbled with this method. It is not a method I'm likely to use again to be honest.