If you keep bees, it's a sure bet that you will have to move them at some point. Bees will get stressed when they feel their habitat is being disturbed. In order to avoid that, a basic guide for honey bee relocation Wayne County MI beekeepers have put together is very helpful for those new to the hobby and even seasoned veterans.
You must carefully prepare your hives before transporting them. The best times to do this are early in the morning or after nightfall. If you close up the entrances during daylight hours, the foraging bees won't be able to get back in, and you'll lose them. Hardware cloth works well for securing entrances. You should check all around the hives for gaps, cracks, and openings. You can smoke the bees as needed to help them stay calm. Be careful not to let the bees overheat in the summer.
Depending on how far you are going, securing your hives is the next step. If you are only moving them a short distance, and the hives are well propolized, securing them may not be necessary. If there is any chance that the drive will jostle the hives, you need to secure them instead of depending on the bee glue to do the job. Some beekeepers secure the bottom boards with staples. Other prefer to use straps to keep the unit together.
Moving can stress bees out. You don't want to start this operation until you are ready to leave. You should get on the road right after you've finished covering the hives. Taking someone with you makes the job a lost easier. You will need a dolly or some other kind of hand truck to get the bees onto the bed of your truck or into your trailer.
The greatest danger at this point is tipping over hives or dropping them. You have to be careful handling your hives because bees get defensive once the sun goes down. Everybody handling these hives needs to be suited up. You need to pack the hives as tightly and closely as possible in your vehicle to minimize the chance of them moving or shifting while you are on the road.
Reorientation can be tricky. Bees are funny. If you move them a couple of feet or over two miles, they adjust just fine. Anything in between that confuses the foragers. When this happens, bees may fly around like they are lost or form clumps on the ground where their hives were before.
There are several ways you can reduce the confusion. Leaving the entrances blocked for up to three days will help. You can put an obstacle in their way when they try to leave the hive. Crawling through it slows them down and helps them adjust. Moving in the rain will keep them inside their hives until they are better adjusted.
Beekeeping is a fun and interesting hobby. Moving a colony can be done successfully with preparation and care. If you plan ahead the bees will adjust to their new surroundings fairly easily.
You must carefully prepare your hives before transporting them. The best times to do this are early in the morning or after nightfall. If you close up the entrances during daylight hours, the foraging bees won't be able to get back in, and you'll lose them. Hardware cloth works well for securing entrances. You should check all around the hives for gaps, cracks, and openings. You can smoke the bees as needed to help them stay calm. Be careful not to let the bees overheat in the summer.
Depending on how far you are going, securing your hives is the next step. If you are only moving them a short distance, and the hives are well propolized, securing them may not be necessary. If there is any chance that the drive will jostle the hives, you need to secure them instead of depending on the bee glue to do the job. Some beekeepers secure the bottom boards with staples. Other prefer to use straps to keep the unit together.
Moving can stress bees out. You don't want to start this operation until you are ready to leave. You should get on the road right after you've finished covering the hives. Taking someone with you makes the job a lost easier. You will need a dolly or some other kind of hand truck to get the bees onto the bed of your truck or into your trailer.
The greatest danger at this point is tipping over hives or dropping them. You have to be careful handling your hives because bees get defensive once the sun goes down. Everybody handling these hives needs to be suited up. You need to pack the hives as tightly and closely as possible in your vehicle to minimize the chance of them moving or shifting while you are on the road.
Reorientation can be tricky. Bees are funny. If you move them a couple of feet or over two miles, they adjust just fine. Anything in between that confuses the foragers. When this happens, bees may fly around like they are lost or form clumps on the ground where their hives were before.
There are several ways you can reduce the confusion. Leaving the entrances blocked for up to three days will help. You can put an obstacle in their way when they try to leave the hive. Crawling through it slows them down and helps them adjust. Moving in the rain will keep them inside their hives until they are better adjusted.
Beekeeping is a fun and interesting hobby. Moving a colony can be done successfully with preparation and care. If you plan ahead the bees will adjust to their new surroundings fairly easily.
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You can find a summary of the benefits and advantages of using professional honey bee relocation Wayne County MI services at http://www.thebestbeeandwaspservice.com/services right now.
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