Moving house - only 1 mile away

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JonnyPicklechin

Field Bee
Joined
Jun 29, 2015
Messages
543
Reaction score
38
Location
Isleworth
Hive Type
National
Number of Hives
20 odd
You'll be pleased to know one reason Im going is so I can move up to 4 hives....!

Anyway, here is what I was going to do to move my hives. Let me know if good or anything to add to moving one one two brood and one one brood hive

1. Prepare to move at dusk.
2. Seal all entrances with rags.
3. Remove roof and replace with flat replacement cover.
4. Rachet up two straps on each hive so its good and tight and nothing moves including the stands.
5. Heft to moving flat bed and gently shift to new house.
6. Heft to new position in new garden.
7. Replace roof and position as exactly before.
8. Keep sealed for 48 hours.
9. Remove rags on second day dusk and cover entrances in twigs and sticks.
10. Leave like this for 3 days.

Do I win £5?
 
...make sure they have good ventilation and mist them with some water, especially if hot.
 
...make sure they have good ventilation and mist them with some water, especially if hot.

:iagree: Lost a cracking colony overnight last year due to them over heating and moving in morning. I am very careful now when moving hives to sites and move asap when I have sealed them in
S
 
if you have open mesh floors then carry on, if solid floors use mesh to seal them up not rags you need to let them have ventilation and water,

if you can confine them for 3 days even better
 
if you have open mesh floors then carry on, if solid floors use mesh to seal them up not rags you need to let them have ventilation and water,

if you can confine them for 3 days even better
Great point...have got mesh floors on both - Will remove inspection boards for the 3 day duration.
Shall I leave a rapid feeder with some low percentage sugar in there when I get them situated in the new site?

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk
 
Great point...have got mesh floors on both - Will remove inspection boards for the 3 day duration.
Shall I leave a rapid feeder with some low percentage sugar in there when I get them situated in the new site?

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

If you have crown boards with the porter escapes in them pin some varroa mesh over the holes and strap the hive together without the roof in place, after you have strapped it together meshed of crown board included you can then put the roof back on till you intend to move it, the night before the move do the same to the entrance with some varroa mesh, then it just a simple case of removing the roof and inspection tray and loading the strapped together hive into the van or car, a word of warning though check under the open mesh floor if you are using a car as you can sometimes get bees underneath the mesh floor and you don't want them buzzing around your head when driving.
 
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Great point...have got mesh floors on both - Will remove inspection boards for the 3 day duration.
Shall I leave a rapid feeder with some low percentage sugar in there when I get them situated in the new site?

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

Inspection boards should only be in when checking mite drop, unless you are in a very windy site. Mind you opinions do vary on that one. Certainly out for the move and while confined and ensure the OMF is not blocked by dead bees or rubbish in the car.
Since confining them a feeder might be an idea ( mainly for water, provided they are OK for stores) , but what time of year are you doing the move?
In the car have the frames running fore to aft.
If any do escape, in my experience they seem to mainly spend their time looking out the back window ( waving goodbye?) . You can always drive in your bee suit, veil off, if worried.
Good advice from Millet.
Forget trying to move them on the stands. Doubt they would fit in a car anyway, and more likely to topple over. Agree with at least two ( ratchet) straps
 
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Forget rags, use foam rubber. Look for a scrapped sofa and there you are for free.

Make damn sure there is no flow on if you use a super above for extra space. Why? Shut in creates a surge of heat, wax softens and nectar can them cascade down wetting bees and covering OMF. Death ensues.

Use a screen to let the heat out.

PH
 
You'll be pleased to know one reason Im going is so I can move up to 4 hives....!
What time of year are you planning on moving them?

I'm moving next Thursday and or Friday, weather dependent. One hive has "entrance activity" foraging etc the other has nothing going on.

I'm in West London and moving them a mile / 5 minute drive.

From pick up to set down in the new location should be no more than 45 minutes.
 
From pick up to set down in the new location should be no more than 45 minutes.
Wouldn't worry too much. If on open mesh floors, remove roof, strap them up and move them. Don't prat around leaving them in for a few days.....if it's good foraging temps let them get on with it.
 

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