Moving hives with supers

[Eyeman]

Quick question
Need to move 2 hives each with 3 supers on to new apiary.
Both are strong colonies.
I'm clearing one super at the moment but will need all off before the move due to their weight and no help.
Plan is to get remaining supers off before and give them an empty super with foundation to allow space for all the bees. Other option is to use an empty super without frames.
Any comments , alternative ideas?
Thanks
Alec

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Sounds like a good plan to me - framed super takes my vote.

 

[drstitson]

KISS

no need to clear supers unless you need to harvest too.

do you have spare OMF floors and solid crown boards (or travel screens)?

remove supers and sandwich between a floor (with entrance block fixed in) and CB. strap up and treat as another unit for the move.
just make sure right stack gets united to correct hive at the other end.

sample principle applies to moving heavy e.g. full LSJ or DB hives unaided - split colony into 2 nucs for the journey, or maybe nuc and original hive which is quicker. same principle as carrying full supers in two stages.

 

[Eyeman]

Good idea drstitson
I could take supers off the evening before and put on a travel screen and put in shade with water spray. Then close main hive up at night for the move next am,
Thanks
Alec

 

[drstitson]

why the water spray? your closed hive doesn't have one!!!!

bees'll be fine - the spray is just to help out in a very hot enclosed vehicle during transit.

just think package bees.

 

[Finman]

.
I move big hives at day time.
I spit the hive and lift super after super TO the sedan carry. Them A mesh with strong frame under the pile and over the pile.

Brood boxes ARE light TO lift together.

In destination I lift the boxes TO their Places in hive tover.
I move even 7 box hives.

In darkness this is impossible job.

Hives need good ventilation that they Fo not start TO boil.

If bees ARE allready flying, put A nuc or One super TO hive site. It collects remaining bees.

 

[Eyeman]

Hi Dr
The supers will be confined between the mesh overnight so water spray over mesh and before transportation is my usual practice to make sure they stay cool and hydrated.
May not be necessary but belt and braces is my approach so long as it doesn't do any harm,
Thanks

 

[oliver90owner]

If you can shift one at a time AND the hives are adjacent, just do one during the day and take more precautions, if flying bees are a problem, on the overnight stint.

Most flyers would be accepted into the other hive, particularly if carrying prezzies (returning foragers).

You could leave a nuc on site to collect stragglers.

Lots of options dependent on situation.

 

[enrico]

Put new floor on new site. Move brood box, drop supers onto old floor. Move next super and drop remaining supers on to old floor, carry on until you are on last super and move that after all flying bees have returned. Problem solved!
E

 

[Eyeman]

Hi enrico
My thread was moving to a different apiary, over 3 miles away!! And I wanted only one journey!!
Alec

 

[drstitson]

"My thread was moving to a different apiary, over 3 miles away!! And I wanted only one journey!!"

presumably just the hives and no fox, chicken and grain?