moving sites - with a van full of hives

[citrus]

need some advice on moving a number of hives ...for future missions

over the last 2 years I have some experience moving a van full but we have always done:-

1. setting up the destination in the late evening

2. driving to the current site and then packing them up when most flying has finished at sunset and loading them in the van

3. driving them to the new site and then unloading in the dark using torch or van headlights

working in the dark is a bit of a pain and want to review what other do

do you leave a hive behind to capture stray fliers and move the hives during the late afternoon or early morning ?

 

[Ian123]

I prep hives that day or previous visit all strapped up and ready to go. You dont have to move them in the dark just make a visit to close the door and return in the morning. You could if you wish load them and leave on the van over night. Its obviously what works for you but doing it in the darks best avoided if you can.

 

[Beefriendly]

Prefer working into the light myself. Arrive early doors?first light. Foam in entrance. Strap and move. Travel screen/remove Abelo poly inserts from crown board if very hot weather. Usually no need for anything if open mesh floor.
Might lose a few overnighters but not many flying that time of morning.

 

[enrico]

Close them up in the evening and move them the following day at my leisure
E

 

[eltalia]

"do you leave a hive behind to capture stray fliers"

Migratory is a game on it's own, it pays to be setup for it as time
in labour costs soon eats the cream in a job.
Those looking to take every single bee for the shift can fit a Porter
gate to the screened entrance closures, and shut stacks down any time.
Otherwise close down just after dusk.
Next day (anytime) packup/load and move.
Release an hour before dusk.

Help?

Bill

 

[MartinL]

"do you leave a hive behind to capture stray fliers"

No need to if;

Close them up in the evening and move them the following day at my leisure
E

Q E D

 

[eltalia]

Originally Posted by eltalia
"do you leave a hive behind to capture stray fliers"

...n0t my question but the 0P's question.

No need to if;
Quote:
Originally Posted by enrico View Post
Close them up in the evening and move them the following day at my leisure

Q E D

Those having done the above often enough will tell you it is not unusal to
find clusters of bees ranging from thimble size to baseball size hanging
off a structure at the old site, often for days.
This does concern some folk.
To capture every bee use a Porters bee escape as I described in my post.

Bill

 

[Beefriendly]

Closing them up on a night will not capture the over-nighters...bees that have stayed out all night and return the following day when warm enough. There are a lot more of those than most people realise.

 

[Finman]

Closing them up on a night will not capture the over-nighters...bees that have stayed out all night and return the following day when warm enough. There are a lot more of those than most people realise.

Have you seen those arrivals at old hive site?.... I don't. If you think, how much bees die every day on the field, I do not trust much on the over nighters.

I have moved much in the morning about 10 a'clock when bees are started flying. I have left a nuc box in the old site that flying bees can go there. Bees are not many in the nuc, perhaps on 1 -2 frames.

.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Closing them up on a night will not capture the over-nighters...bees that have stayed out all night and return the following day when warm enough. There are a lot more of those than most people realise.

Have you seen those arrivals at old hive site?

.

Yes

 

[Finman]

Yes

How many?... That better not move?

Handfull, one litre....?

What ever, I will not mind about them. I must do the transport..

 

[enrico]

Just be careful you don't tread on any that do return overnight. They will collect in a ball at the site. My wife trod on one lot. Not a happy bunny!!!!!
E

 

[Finman]

.
I must move just now my hives. Most of them I move before midday.
Hives are so heavy that I must move them box after box and pile into sedan carry, and in destination I pile them from carry onto hive.

2 brood boxes I can lift together.

If there are fliers more or less, I leave perhaps super into old site and flieing bees can go there. In the next day it is easy to move then the closed super to its original hive.

I move alone my all hives, and all kind of hives will go there, where I want. That is the secret of big yields.

 

[Finman]

Just be careful you don't tread on any that do return overnight. They will collect in a ball at the site. My wife trod on one lot. Not a happy bunny!!!!!
E

Give to the ball a nuch and they will go in.

 

[Beefriendly]

My lot just beg there way into adjacent hives. When I bring them back from wherever... tough...I lose a few.

 

[Finman]

My lot just beg there way into adjacent hives. When I bring them back from wherever... tough...I lose a few.

And you worry about them. Very practical.

 

[Finman]

My lot just beg there way into adjacent hives. When I bring them back from wherever... tough...I lose a few.

And you worry about them. Very practical.

When I bring to home honey boxes to be extracted, carry floor has mite or less honey. Robber bees rush on honey and then a fight begins. There are hundreds of dead bees there.

 

[Anduril]

I've closed them up at dusk, any bees left out overnight beg their way in to other hives. Taken them to other apiary in the dark and released straight away. I've also stored them in a cool dark place overnight and moved them early morning, as soon as they are on site, open straight away. Also got up early before dawn, closed up, moved and open straight away at new apiary site.

 

[Finman]

.
I want to sleep normal night. I have moved hives mainly a'clock 10-12. I set up the hives and bees start to forage in couple of hours.

Never thought those over night bees and I will never think them. Funny story after all.
.

 

[Anduril]

.
I want to sleep normal night. I have moved hives mainly a'clock 10-12. I set up the hives and bees start to forage in couple of hours.

Never thought those over night bees and I will never think them. Funny story after all.
.

The land of the midnight sun! Must cause a few problems?