Beekeeping is about more than just wearing a netted hat and moving slowly among the clover. The bee populations around the world are in serious jeopardy. Unless keepers learn to do a proper beehive relocation, then splitting or moving hives can result in another million bees lost, which for many new keepers also means less honey in the world.
Performing the move should be set for a time when the little darlings are at home. Being confined in the hive during a move will cause them to become agitated, but it should not cause them to swarm in a panic. The trick is, before reopening their lair, you want to make sure to block the door with some sticks or twigs.
If the keeper fails to keep the bees in the hive, they may spill out the opening by the thousands. A move of even a few feet may cause them to fly in a panic, whizzing about trying to find their home once more. They are much more likely to swarm and sting at this time, and if they find the wrong hive an ugly fight to the death can ensue.
There are still going to be some stragglers after a move, and loss of some bees may yet occur. It can be kept to a minimum if you place a clean and empty bee nucleus box as close to the old hive site as possible. Even though this is an unsettling and alien environment, it is still going to feel like home to them due to the magnetism of the Earth; and this gives you a chance to move them to the new hive.
It might be best to move your little dears during the winter months. When the temperature dips below fifty degrees Fahrenheit, they tend to stay safe and snug indoors. You might be able to get them all moved and set up anew without a single one of them being out and about, which can prevent the loss of the precious foragers of their colony.
Cold months are also a better time due to the stability of the hive the bees have created. The younger the crew or the hotter the temperature, the more delicate their hive may be. Destruction of their delicate new construction can be devastating to the colony, so waiting until it is cold out, and their construction is rigid and well attached is key.
Even an experienced beekeeper can make a stupid mistake, so we really must remind new bee people that their hive needs excellent ventilation during the move. Bees can become easily overheated, and agitating them during a move causes their index to rise. Keeping the box cushioned and the car as cold as possible helps to ensure the colony makes it to their new destination alive.
Spraying water regularly at the areas of ventilation is also helpful when it comes to keeping them cooled down. Even if you are performing this move on a sleety winter night during the New Moon, water is still important to your success. Crank up the air conditioning, drive slow, and keep their air holes moistened, and you just might get a live hive to their new home.
Performing the move should be set for a time when the little darlings are at home. Being confined in the hive during a move will cause them to become agitated, but it should not cause them to swarm in a panic. The trick is, before reopening their lair, you want to make sure to block the door with some sticks or twigs.
If the keeper fails to keep the bees in the hive, they may spill out the opening by the thousands. A move of even a few feet may cause them to fly in a panic, whizzing about trying to find their home once more. They are much more likely to swarm and sting at this time, and if they find the wrong hive an ugly fight to the death can ensue.
There are still going to be some stragglers after a move, and loss of some bees may yet occur. It can be kept to a minimum if you place a clean and empty bee nucleus box as close to the old hive site as possible. Even though this is an unsettling and alien environment, it is still going to feel like home to them due to the magnetism of the Earth; and this gives you a chance to move them to the new hive.
It might be best to move your little dears during the winter months. When the temperature dips below fifty degrees Fahrenheit, they tend to stay safe and snug indoors. You might be able to get them all moved and set up anew without a single one of them being out and about, which can prevent the loss of the precious foragers of their colony.
Cold months are also a better time due to the stability of the hive the bees have created. The younger the crew or the hotter the temperature, the more delicate their hive may be. Destruction of their delicate new construction can be devastating to the colony, so waiting until it is cold out, and their construction is rigid and well attached is key.
Even an experienced beekeeper can make a stupid mistake, so we really must remind new bee people that their hive needs excellent ventilation during the move. Bees can become easily overheated, and agitating them during a move causes their index to rise. Keeping the box cushioned and the car as cold as possible helps to ensure the colony makes it to their new destination alive.
Spraying water regularly at the areas of ventilation is also helpful when it comes to keeping them cooled down. Even if you are performing this move on a sleety winter night during the New Moon, water is still important to your success. Crank up the air conditioning, drive slow, and keep their air holes moistened, and you just might get a live hive to their new home.
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