Putting in drainage at apiary.

[nightshade]

So my apiary is a bit damp near hives..

Gonna get my retired father down with the mini digger to run a trench about 20 feet to nearest ditch...I have you tubed pipe backfill with stones and cover up..

Probably need to dig quite close to hives...within 3 feet..

Do I need to move them?..close them while digging is happening?.

Any thing else I need to consider or am I being naive in thinking it should be straight forward?

 

[Poly Hive]

I would ask him to wear a beesuit just to be on the safe side. After all he is doing you a favour so why should he get stung?

PH

 

[enrico]

Just close them up the night before and if possible move them away and into the shade, bring them back in the evening after the work is done and open them up again before sundown.
If one got knocked over you would be in trouble!!!!! Trust me, been there!
E

 

[madasafish]

Just close them up the night before and if possible move them away and into the shade, bring them back in the evening after the work is done and open them up again before sundown.
If one got knocked over you would be in trouble!!!!! Trust me, been there!
E

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Digger drivers make mistakes - or end up with a slide due to mud/clay. Move them for their and his safety.

 

[Curly green fingers]

+1
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Digger drivers make mistakes - or end up with a slide due to mud/clay. Move them for their and his safety.

Not all digger driver's make mistakes. They decide to not work when condition's get slippy it can be very dangerous
I would move the hive . I wouldn't want the fumes blowing near the hive. Or want bee's landing on me sounds like an accident waiting to happen even if you had a suit on.
Suggestion's man and a shovel !
Mark.

 

[alldigging]

How wet is the ground? Given you're putting drainage in... it might be very soft.

If he's not an experience digger then I'd get the hives moved out of the way and put back when it's done.

Do it whilst it's cold and the bees will hardly notice.

 

[nightshade]

Super...

Wasn't sure whether closing them in for a day would affect them terribly or not..

I'll certainly move them!!

 

[enrico]

If by any chance it is a really hot day then spray a little water up through the mesh floor a couple of times. When moving them wear the gear, just in case you or someone else drops them!
E

 

[nightshade]

Will remember that Enrico. ..

Luckily they are still two polynucs which makes it a bit easier...

Need to get my arse in gear as I haven't even thought about inspecting them yet as it's a bit nippy or moving them into full hives or treating them...

Thought it might be a good idea to deal with the wet first however...

This was my first winter with them so still finding my feet !!

 

[Millet]

When you move them can you not just leave them where you put them, that would save messing on with the digger..

 

[nightshade]

I thought about it millet but even though we are very lucky to have a relative large area,I still like to accommodate the kids dog and weather conditions....

I picked a 6 ft by 12 ft area as it was relatively well sheltered and away from the house..

They have overwintered well despite a few hit and misses with my swarm nuc...unfortunately because they are in a bit of a dip it is wet...a straight pipe right under hives would sort it out well...

I'm just conscious that I could be running out of time and am a procrastinator on occasion!!...need to focus!!

 

[charlievictorbravo]

Nightshade - you could get your Dad to create a small pool where your drain joins the ditch. It will provide the bees with a nearby water source in winter and possibly summer too.

CVB

 

[charlievictorbravo]

Oops - duplicate

CVB

 

[nightshade]

Now that's a possibility cvb! !....he'll just love me!!