Hello everyone, not been on here for a while but it's good to be back.
I need to move two hives pronto - Swienty poly each with a super (I wasn't planning on going anywhere until the Spring, but circumstances have changed). Bees have come through the winter well (so far) and there are plenty of them...they were clustered until yesterday when the sun tempted them out for a bit.
I've read on other threads about splitting the hive into its component layers using screen mesh and then reassembling it in the new location. I am nowhere near strong enough to move brood box + super together, so this seems like a reasonable way forward. But do I use travelling screens (from Thornes) strapped on top and bottom of the super, or am I right in thinking a screen on the top and then a Swienty floor on the bottom of the super would be a better, stronger idea? It's not a long journey, but it does involve crossing 200m of rough-ish terrain on foot, and then about an hour over some lovely Dales' roads...
I have also wondered about Thornes's new hive barrow (I need to send them the dimensions of the swienty boxes so they can check if the rebates are the right size to fit the barrow) but not sure I have cash for that even if it does fit.
All advice gratefully received, I'm very nervous of doing this but have no choice, so I'm looking for the best safest option, almost certainly doing one hive at a time...spending a little bit as necessary rather than more home-made options which I don't have time/expertise for just now.
Thank you.
I need to move two hives pronto - Swienty poly each with a super (I wasn't planning on going anywhere until the Spring, but circumstances have changed). Bees have come through the winter well (so far) and there are plenty of them...they were clustered until yesterday when the sun tempted them out for a bit.
I've read on other threads about splitting the hive into its component layers using screen mesh and then reassembling it in the new location. I am nowhere near strong enough to move brood box + super together, so this seems like a reasonable way forward. But do I use travelling screens (from Thornes) strapped on top and bottom of the super, or am I right in thinking a screen on the top and then a Swienty floor on the bottom of the super would be a better, stronger idea? It's not a long journey, but it does involve crossing 200m of rough-ish terrain on foot, and then about an hour over some lovely Dales' roads...
I have also wondered about Thornes's new hive barrow (I need to send them the dimensions of the swienty boxes so they can check if the rebates are the right size to fit the barrow) but not sure I have cash for that even if it does fit.
All advice gratefully received, I'm very nervous of doing this but have no choice, so I'm looking for the best safest option, almost certainly doing one hive at a time...spending a little bit as necessary rather than more home-made options which I don't have time/expertise for just now.
Thank you.
