moving hives

[Hachi]

The farmer where I have my Bee's (Three hives) called and asked me to "pop up" for a chat, to tell me he needs me to move my hives 120m to a new location.

Those I have spoken too, not from this site, have equally mixed responses that either say no problems just do it to those saying 3 miles for two weeks then back again.

Which is it?

 

[itma]

At this time of the year 120 yards is likely to be a serious problem.
It would be absolutely no problem at all in January.

You could try "the tricks" (shutting them in for 48 hours {beware cooking them}, obstructing the exit/entrance and changing hive orientation), but I'd expect a fair proportion of bees to still 'home' back to the old site.

A 3+mile move would be much safer.
If they are going back to the exact original location, time limits don't apply.
But if they are ending up 100 yards from the starting point, 2 weeks away may not be long enough.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

At this time of the year 120 yards is likely to be a serious problem.
It would be absolutely no problem at all in January.

You could try "the tricks" (shutting them in for 48 hours {beware cooking them}, obstructing the exit/entrance and changing hive orientation), but I'd expect a fair proportion of bees to still 'home' back to the old site.

A 3+mile move would be much safer.
If they are going back to the exact original location, time limits don't apply.
But if they are ending up 100 yards from the starting point, 2 weeks away may not be long enough.

totally if they are going to be moved to a permanent new location 120 metres (is that something like a yard?) away they'll have to go three miles away until all the existing flying bees have died off (5-6 weeks)

 

[BeeJayBee]

I tried moving one hive about 10ft last year. They went back to the old site. Had to do it in less than 3ft stages, which worked.

 

[mbc]

Or;
1, Move them leaving boxes to catch the flyers.
2, Unite the flyers to the colony over newspaper in the evening.
3, Repeat step 2 if needed

 

[AndyTh]

JenkinsBryn is right imo. A swarm took up home on my drive and after a week I took them 5 miles away for them to re-orientate; they were away for 2-3 weeks (I could not find in the literature any reference to how long it takes bees to forget their previous home). I then returned them to my home apiary 200 yds away from the drive and guess what? A large number of flying bees remembered the old home and returned to the drive. All those workers perished - if you want to keep your workers together the 3 mile rule is a good one, and I will agree with Jenkins that they need to be away for probably 5-6 weeks to be sure. Good luck

 

[galileo]

Yep, 3 weeks away and in a place where they're not going to come across their established flight-path references.

Mine are just coming to the end of such a move now, soon to be carted back to the woods, some 30 yards from their previous site. I've not seen a single bee trying to home in the meantime, but then again, that might have something to do with them having several hundred acres of flowering OSR on their doorstep. Chances are they've not flown beyond the field for 3 weeks!

Hope you get yourself sorted.

 

[susbees]

Or;
1, Move them leaving boxes to catch the flyers.
2, Unite the flyers to the colony over newspaper in the evening.
3, Repeat step 2 if needed

Quite. Standard procedure here and works well. Never move unites closer in stages and home apiary spread over 100+ metres with lots of willow coppiced bits and bramble lumps.

 

[Hachi]

aaaaarrrrgggghhhh I knew it was bad.................

 

[Hachi]

To sum up then:

Move the hives over 3 miles away

Wait for the current flying bee's to snuff it in new location cos if they still alive when moved back their imprint will mean they will go back to old location 120m away? hence the wait before I move them back of 5-6 weeks?

Is that it?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

To sum up then:

Move the hives over 3 miles away

Wait for the current flying bee's to snuff it in new location cos if they still alive when moved back their imprint will mean they will go back to old location 120m away? hence the wait before I move them back of 5-6 weeks?

Is that it?

In a nutcase - yes

 

[Hachi]

Never move unites closer in stages and home apiary spread over 100+ metres with lots of willow coppiced bits and bramble lumps.

SusBee's Not sure I understand your comment. Should it be "moved"

 

[oliver90owner]

I would say three weeks should be enough if precautions are taken on resiting after that.

Most of the current foragers will be toast in three weeks and the current younger bees will only have orientated to the hive and not be befuddled on returning from a foraging foray, as would older bees.

RAB

 

[Hachi]

I would say three weeks should be enough if precautions are taken on resiting after that.

Most of the current foragers will be toast in three weeks and the current younger bees will only have orientated to the hive and not be befuddled on returning from a foraging foray, as would older bees.

RAB

Makes sense to me cheers

 

[Hachi]

All I got to do now is find a location more than 3 miles away for the duration.

 

[Mellifera397]

I'm moving mine this weekend, I'm going to do mbc's aubgestion as I haven't gotman apiary 3 miles away to use. I'll post my results.

M

 

[FreeFall]

All I got to do now is find a location more than 3 miles away for the duration.

Where in Wiltshire are you? I'm between Wootton Bassett and Lyneham with space for a few hives it that helps?

Nick

 

[itma]

To sum up then:

Move the hives over 3 miles away

Wait for the current flying bee's to snuff it in new location cos if they still alive when moved back their imprint will mean they will go back to old location 120m away? hence the wait before I move them back of 5-6 weeks?

Is that it?

That's the proper way.
Not saying that nothing else stands any chance of working, but if you do it that way, you should have very very few bees 'homing' to the old site on return.
Of course, you can still do "the tricks" (shutting in for a while, etc) as well when you return - depending on how critical it might be that as few as ever possible go back to the old location.

// The longer away, the fewer bees that could have a memory of the old home, and the fewer of those that will actually remember. I'd say 3 weeks was a very bare minimum.

 

[Hachi]

Where in Wiltshire are you? I'm between Wootton Bassett and Lyneham with space for a few hives it that helps?

Nick

PM sent thanks