What to do after transportation

[luneau123]

I live in Central France and have bought 4 over-wintered 2011 Queen colonies. Picking up mid April. Bees will be in plywood mini hive with 6 operational Frames - with 2012 Brood, Pollen, Honey etc.

Journey time will be 3 hours - early morning - max expected temp 15 degrees.

When I get to the new site is it best to (a) to leave in travelling box on Frames for a day - or (b) to transfer immediately to new hive. Restricting entrance in both cases.

Seems to be some that say one way and others that say other way.

Any advice please?

 

[MJBee]

Somewhere between the two options would be my advice

Place the travelling boxes on the sites where they will be staying, open the flight slot/hole to let them fly and orientate on their new surroundings. Then late afternoon or early evening transfer them to their new hives. Do not give them too much space, let them grow into the hive. for a start from one side wall:- 1 frame foundation, 6 Nuc frames in the same order they were in the travelling box then 1 frame of foundation, a dummy board. Fill the spare space with insulation (crumpled newspaper will do)

Add frames of foundation as the bees draw and occupy the existing ones.

Hope I'm not teaching granny to suck eggs, enjoy your bees, taking on 4 Nucs all in one go is a bold move

 

[iombeeman]

If you put bees in a new location,and tranfer to a new box,how will the bees know where to go.Better to leave in the travel box for a day or so,until they learn their new location then transfer to new box.

 

[Poly Hive]

From the POV of stress and if you have the time, note the IF...

Let them fly and settle over night and the following early evening do the transfer.

Please ensure they will have ventilation during the journey and if they sound loud spray with water.

PH

 

[iombeeman]

 

[Into the lions den]

Have done exactly what the OP is asking about, in fact with a transit time far in excess of that.

Place the nucleus in the position the hive will be in and let it fly and settle. Bees will start to work almost immediatley and, unless there is no forage and/or flying conditions are bad they will have the first pollen back inside half an hour (probably less). Allow till the next day to settle.

Then, given they are 6 active frames, just transfer the lot into the new hive, top the box up with frames of foundation, add a generous feed if necessary, and watch them go. Should be no need to restrict the entrances.

A nuc of that size should draw all that foundation inside a week and have full bars of eggs outside the original confines of the nest.

Bear in mind this question originates from France, and by mid April the bees are motoring, and the extra space is the least they will need. A vigorous nuc at that date in the weather at the posters location will just take off like a rocket, and if given too little space will start cells inside a couple of weeks, so early supering will also probably be advisable.

 

[Luminos]

Welcome to the forum Luneau123

 

[luneau123]

Bees after transport

Many thanks to you all - advice taken on board - will let you know outcome.

 

[thedeaddiplomat]

Or you could always ask an Aussie...

 

[peterbees]

Here are a few notes on transferring bees to a full hive...
How to transfer your bees from a 5-frame nucleus hive

Welcome to beekeeping! You’ve got your bees. Here is what you will need to transfer the bees into a beehive.
Hive floor and entrance block.
Brood box
Six DN4 Hoffman deep frames and foundation, or five if using a WBC hive.
Crown board.
Empty super to hold feeder
Feeder
Roof

1. Collect your nucleus hive of bees in the evening, when the bees have stopped flying.
2. Place nuc hive in position on the hive stand.
3. Open the entrance.
4. Leave the bees to fly and to settle down for a few days.

Decision: Do you want to run your hive warm way or cold way?
Warm way, with the frames parallel to the entrance allows you to work the hive easily from behind. Cold way requires you to twist if working from behind. I only use warm way.

1. Choose a warm sunny day when the bees are flying well.
2. Move nuc hive to one side and place your new hive on the stand, with the entrance block in place to reduce the entrance.
3. Place three frames of foundation in brood box at back.
4. Open nuc hive and gently smoke your bees.
5. Lift out first frame of bees and place in hive.
6. Continue to transfer frames of bees, making sure that they are the same way round as in the nuc hive.
7. Add the last three frames of foundation.
8. Shake any bees still in the nuc hive into the new hive.
9. Fit crown board and empty super.
10. Fill in new hive record card.
11. Fit roof.
12. The same evening, give the bees a feeder full of syrup, 2 x 1kg sugar mixed with 1½ litres of water. If you feed when the bees are flying you may cause other bees to rob the hive.
13. Continue feeding until the bees have drawn out all the frames of foundation.