Beekeepers Must Learn The Best Way To Do A Beehive Relocation

الجمعة، 15 ديسمبر 2017

By Rebecca Watson


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.

Do not fret if some bees fail at this process. If you see a small bunch or swarm still hovering around the prior location, place an empty nucleus box at their old home site. Those bees still confused will find their way into it by nightfall, then you simply close the lid and move the poor darlings to their old abode so they can restart reorientation.

Winter moves go a little more smoothly for the bees since they may not be foraging at all, depending on the weather. At about fifty degrees or below, they will get back to their hives as quickly as they can, if they have ever left it at all that day. You will still want to close the hive for moving, and place the branches at the opening, but the chance of bee loss is much less due to the cold.

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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