1/31/2024 0 Comments Shut in beesmission accomplished! Bees are settling in to their new location.NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - “Honey just got funny” was the tagline for Jerry Seinfeld’s 2007 animated feature “Bee Movie,” in which the comic gave voice to a bee that rebels against the exploitation of the agricultural industry. To conclude, moving bees can be a daunting process, but with a little preparation and forethought you can definitely master this skill. A leafy branch or similar object will cause the bees to reorient themselves because the view from the hive is unfamiliar. This method seems to work fairly well as long as the bees have to crawl through an obstruction as they leave the hive. –Place an object in front of the entrance. This works like sequestration because most bees will not be flying. This does stress the bees somewhat and is not recommended in hot weather. This will cause some of the bees to reorient themselves next time they go out. Leave the entrance screen in place for up to 72 hours after the move. You can help bees reorient to their new location by trying one or more of the following tricks. Otherwise, they may clump up on the ground where their hive was or fly around confused. If the hive is only moved a few feet or over 2 miles, the bees will normally adjust with no problem. When bees are moved shorter distances (about 2 miles or less), foraging bees returning to their old location can be an issue. If possible, pack the hives in closely or wedge them in tight spaces in the truck or trailer to minimize shifting during transit. Bees are especially crawly and defensive at night, so suit up and take extra care when handling them. Every beekeeper seems to have a story of relocation gone wrong, mostly caused by dropping or tipping over hives. Try to recruit a friend or two and use a dolly-you will be less likely to throw out your back or drop a hive. Moving hives is stressful for the bees (and beekeepers!) so it’s best to get on the road as soon as possible after the hives have been sealed and secured. Ratchet straps are convenient because they can be removed quickly and easily after the hives are in place. The hive bodies, covers, and bottom boards may be fastened together with 2” staples, but many find it easier to use ratchet straps to keep the whole unit together. If the hive is well-propolized you may get away without securing it, but this can be risky, especially if the hives will be jostled at all during the move. This would also be a good time to secure the hive to prevent it from shifting in transit. Staple the screen securely so bees can’t squeeze out. For long trips in hot weather it would smart to leave the outer cover off and replace the regular inner cover with a screened cover. Entire truckloads of bees have been lost to overheating. Good ventilation is crucial, especially in warmer weather. Inspect the hive for other entrances such as gaps between boxes and cover these with duct tape or screen. Smoke the bees as needed to keep them calm and in the hive. Make sure it is the correct length and bend it 90 degrees so that it fits snugly in the entrance. Close up the hive by stapling a piece of #8 hardware cloth over the main entrance. If the hive is closed up during the day, any foragers out in the field will be left behind. The night before the big move is a good time to get the hives ready, but for morning people, before dawn on the day of the move also works. Here at the NorCal Bee Informed Partnership “headquarters” in Oroville, we recently relocated 4 rooftop colonies about a half mile away because some of the maintenance staff felt did not feel comfortable working on the AC units near the bees, and we wanted to avoid any issues before they happened! In this blog I would like to go through the basics of moving colonies and some lessons learned from our recent experience. At some point every beekeeper will need to move hives, whether it’s a beginning hobbyist bringing home their first colony or a seasoned professional moving an entire operation across the country.
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