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.
Ensure the cloth is of the correct length so that it fits perfectly over the entrance. During the process, you might want to use smoke to calm the bees. You should also check whether there are gaps that are present between the boxes.
Gaps can be easily sealed using duct tape. Before you relocate, be sure to check if the weather is right for transportation lest your bees get killed by heat. If temperatures are soaring outdoors, replace the inside cover of the hive with a screened cover then remover the outer one.
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.
The actual movement process is bound to be a stressful moment for the bees. It is therefore prudent to get going immediately you finish loading so as to get the process over with fast. Ensure you have someone to help you out during transportation. Things often go wrong when beekeepers opt to relocate without any help.
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.
Most bees do not fly during rainy weather and in winter. These are the best seasons for moving hives. All you should do at this time is seal the entrance using a leafy branch. While the movement process can be challenging, a little foresight can help ease some of the challenges you are bound to face.
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.
Ensure the cloth is of the correct length so that it fits perfectly over the entrance. During the process, you might want to use smoke to calm the bees. You should also check whether there are gaps that are present between the boxes.
Gaps can be easily sealed using duct tape. Before you relocate, be sure to check if the weather is right for transportation lest your bees get killed by heat. If temperatures are soaring outdoors, replace the inside cover of the hive with a screened cover then remover the outer one.
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.
The actual movement process is bound to be a stressful moment for the bees. It is therefore prudent to get going immediately you finish loading so as to get the process over with fast. Ensure you have someone to help you out during transportation. Things often go wrong when beekeepers opt to relocate without any help.
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.
Most bees do not fly during rainy weather and in winter. These are the best seasons for moving hives. All you should do at this time is seal the entrance using a leafy branch. While the movement process can be challenging, a little foresight can help ease some of the challenges you are bound to face.
About the Author:
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment