Swarm found my hive - relocation required

[bjosephd]

Evening all...

So a moderate sized swarm generously found my hive today!

They moved in around midday but sadly I was at work until late afternoon after they had thoroughly moved in and a good load of bees were back out and about again busying away.

However, the hive can't stay where it is and it's permanent location is about 100 meters away, over a road, over some walls, and past some trees the other side of an orchard.

I need to move it - as they have only been living in this location half a day is it ok to stuff the entrance tonight and move them and let them out tomorrow? Or keep them locked in for a day or two before opening it in the new location? Or various other approaches...?

I know ideally the bait hive should have originally been placed exactly where I want it to stay, but for various reasons that didn't happen - I also thought getting a mystery swarm from the skies like that was almost mythical!

What would you guys and girls do?

Thanks!

p.s. the picture is two boxes, but they are all in the bottom box now, food on top, spare box and roof on top.

 

[Anduril]

Yes close up tonight, move, then open up as it gets dark. They will orientated to that position in the morning and will have forgotten the other position.

 

[Cazza]

Move it tomorrow morning. I get up at dawn before the bees do. Move the hive and cover the entrance with leafy branches. Job done.
Cazza

 

[wessexmario]

if you have to go to work tomorrow then move it tonight.
wait until sun setting, close entrance and move it.
open the entrance when the sun has set, they'll not go foraging until morning.
you'll want your protection on when you open it though, they might get defensive immediately after being moved.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I need to move it - as they have only been living in this location half a day is it ok to stuff the entrance tonight and move them and let them out tomorrow? Or keep them locked in for a day or two before opening it in the new location? Or various other approaches...?

Freshly landed swarms won't have a hive memory for a day or so, thus no problems moving the hive a short distance without the aid of magic twigs .
So as everyone else - move either late tonight or early tomorrow morning - whichever is the most convenient for you

 

[bjosephd]

Thanks all...

I actually have a flexible few days now, so can take as much or as little time as required.
(wessexmario, would you advise something slightly different since I'm not working for a couple of days?)

Nobody seems too worried that they've spent half a day orientating to this current location. Too little time to really hardwire it in you think?

I've read about putting leafy branches etc in front to make them realise immediately they are somewhere new. How long do you need to leave the branches/obstacles there once relocated?

Nobody has mentioned leaving them blocked in for a more extended time. Not required? Or not good for the new bees (they are being fed).

Unless, Anduril, you meant close up tonight, move, then open up tomorrow night after a day in the box?

Thanks peeps

 

[Anduril]

Thanks all...

I actually have a flexible few days now, so can take as much or as little time as required.
(wessexmario, would advise something slightly different since I'm not working for a couple of days?)

Nobody seems too worried that they've spent half a day orientating to this current location. Too little time to really hardwire it in you think?

I've read about putting leafy branches in front to make them realise immediately they are somewhere new. How long do you need to leave the branches/obstacles there once moved?

Nobody has mentioned leaving them blocked in for a more extended time. Not required? Or not good for the new bees (they are being fed).

Unless, Anduril, you meant close up tonight, move, then open up tomorrow night after a day in the box?

Thanks peeps

No! Close up tonight, move tonight, open up tonight. I have moved bait hives a short distance. Even when they have arrived around midday and moved in the evening. They will not remember their original location, nor their swarmed location. As JBM no magic twigs needed.

 

[bjosephd]

This all sounds good...

...I feared some real tricky solutions, but this is about as simple as could be - aside from me maybe putting bait hive somewhere better!... Although I got the swarm... so maybe it was perfectly placed!

Beginners luck maybe, but it makes me want to order a second hive asap and bait it and place it exactly as before!

 

[bjosephd]

Looks like they're all in bed already!... Time to get my spirit level out...

Should I be waiting until dark though before shifting the actual box of bees?

 

[wessexmario]

no need to wait till dark to start, as once you've shut them in, they're in, but you won't be tripping over stuff in the dark!

you might wait for a few mins to check no more foragers are coming in, but looking outside it's chilling off now so I doubt it, you might as well start now.

 

[Thymallus]

This all sounds good...

...I feared some real tricky solutions, but this is about as simple as could be - aside from me maybe putting bait hive somewhere better!... Although I got the swarm... so maybe it was perfectly placed!

Beginners luck maybe, but it makes me want to order a second hive asap and bait it and place it exactly as before!

Bearing in mind that you now have bees that are known to swarm! Better order four hives for next year to accommodate all the swarm controls

 

[bjosephd]

Ha! Touché Thymallus...

What have I let myself in for! Surely all bees are a bit swarmy though?

 

[bjosephd]

Right,

Bees moved to new location now... entrance still blocked just to let them calm a little after the wobble of their journey, will unblock later.

Still nervous that tomorrow morning might be a confusion for them though since they all seemed to be orienting and rather business as usual by late afternoon today.

Maybe magic twigs/branch/leaves/obstacle course just for luck eh ;O)

 

[Thymallus]

Surely all bees are a bit swarmy though?

No, they can vary tremendously. What you need to avoid are local bees that swarm annually regardless.

 

[bjosephd]

So here is the worry...

Box moved, but already this morning rather a lot of bees back in old location looking rather confused where the missing hive is... this is not good =O(

 

[bjosephd]

and there is NO bee activity outside the hive entrance in it's new location.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

looks like they moved on

 

[wessexmario]

So here is the worry...

Box moved, but already this morning rather a lot of bees back in old location looking rather confused where the missing hive is... this is not good =O(

Put another box there and just tip them back into the hive regularly. If you don't have spare kit then a cardboard box with a thumb sized hole in it will do. The incantation of oaths and the magic leafy branch in front of the hive entrance might be required. They usually sort themselves out and learn where home is after a few trips out and back.

 

[bjosephd]

looks like they moved on

Nope, they were definitely still very busy and buzzy inside the hive, but the numbers in the old location gradually became more and more, swirling and hunting for the invisible box.

The odd bee or 3 started to emerge from the hive and do some orientation flights, but I bottled it and put the hive back where they swarmed to. The swirl of bees looking for the invisible hive then instantly got sucked into the entrance like a ghostbusters ghost trap!

They are very busy and happy and mellow now, so looks like they'll be here for a while and I'll have to do a 3 mile move and back some time down the line.

Beekeeping is nought but lessons.

Thanks for your thoughts peeps,

and p.s. do most feed 50/50 syrup to a new swarm to help them get comb building?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

If they need it (and this year it seems to be the case) yes, but leave them for a few days before feeding.