Bees play a very important role in the ecosystem. Besides providing honey for humans and other animals, they pollinate flowering plants. Whether you want to move your hive as part of a home relocation or are simply preparing for the winter, this beehive relocation guide should help you understand how best to go about it.
The first step is preparing the hives. The most opportune preparation time is nighttime or just before dawn. If your hive had been closed earlier in the day, foraging bees may find it hard to get back in. You need to keep the hive closed by closing the main entrance with a hardware cloth. A few staples should help keep the cloth tight.
For the cloth to fit perfectly, it ought to be of the correct length. As you get going with the preparation exercise, ensure you keep the bees calm by smoking them. Also check if the boxes have gaps that require sealing between them.
If there are any, cover them using duct tape. Study the weather properly to avoid losing your bees through overheating. If it is hot outdoors, remove the outer cover of the hive and use a screened cover for the inner section.
The next step is to keep the hive board fastened to the floor of the moving van. Avoid placing it in a position where it will shift irregularly when in transit. Too much disturbance may rattle the bees, which needless to say will be risky for you and others nearby assuming the seals wear off. 2 inch staples are appropriate for fastening. Nevertheless, most folks prefer opting for ratchet straps for this.
Movement is always a stressful experience for bees. It would therefore be prudent to move immediately you conclude the hive preparation and loading process. Ensure you travel with an assistant for purposes of loading and unloading the hive. In case you move alone, there is a high chance a thing or two will go wrong.
As bees are naturally defensive insects, make sure you suit up for the exercise. The travel distance also matters a lot in this regard. If the distance is less than 2 miles, you might have an issue with local foraging bees returning. However, you should not have an adaptation problem if you are moving them just a few feet or more than 2 miles.
Sequestration is a technique that many beekeepers use to help bees adapt to new areas. To achieve this leave the entrance screen in place upon arrival. Only remove it after 72 hours. This will force them to recondition themselves before moving out. Nevertheless, sequestration often leaves bees irritated, so avoid it during summer.
Bees are mostly inactive during winter and in rainy seasons. This is the perfect time for relocation. A leafy branch should act as a good entrance cover then. With this knowledge, you should enjoy a smooth process.
The first step is preparing the hives. The most opportune preparation time is nighttime or just before dawn. If your hive had been closed earlier in the day, foraging bees may find it hard to get back in. You need to keep the hive closed by closing the main entrance with a hardware cloth. A few staples should help keep the cloth tight.
For the cloth to fit perfectly, it ought to be of the correct length. As you get going with the preparation exercise, ensure you keep the bees calm by smoking them. Also check if the boxes have gaps that require sealing between them.
If there are any, cover them using duct tape. Study the weather properly to avoid losing your bees through overheating. If it is hot outdoors, remove the outer cover of the hive and use a screened cover for the inner section.
The next step is to keep the hive board fastened to the floor of the moving van. Avoid placing it in a position where it will shift irregularly when in transit. Too much disturbance may rattle the bees, which needless to say will be risky for you and others nearby assuming the seals wear off. 2 inch staples are appropriate for fastening. Nevertheless, most folks prefer opting for ratchet straps for this.
Movement is always a stressful experience for bees. It would therefore be prudent to move immediately you conclude the hive preparation and loading process. Ensure you travel with an assistant for purposes of loading and unloading the hive. In case you move alone, there is a high chance a thing or two will go wrong.
As bees are naturally defensive insects, make sure you suit up for the exercise. The travel distance also matters a lot in this regard. If the distance is less than 2 miles, you might have an issue with local foraging bees returning. However, you should not have an adaptation problem if you are moving them just a few feet or more than 2 miles.
Sequestration is a technique that many beekeepers use to help bees adapt to new areas. To achieve this leave the entrance screen in place upon arrival. Only remove it after 72 hours. This will force them to recondition themselves before moving out. Nevertheless, sequestration often leaves bees irritated, so avoid it during summer.
Bees are mostly inactive during winter and in rainy seasons. This is the perfect time for relocation. A leafy branch should act as a good entrance cover then. With this knowledge, you should enjoy a smooth process.
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You can find a list of the benefits you get when you use a beehive relocation service at http://www.beelievehawaii.com/beeremoval right now.
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