Sunday, December 3, 2017

A Beginners Guide To Beehive Relocation

By James Williams


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 getting the hives ready for the relocation exercise. The best time to do this is at night or before dawn. Assuming you had left the hive closed during the day, other bees that may have been out foraging for nectar may be left behind. You ought to close the hive by sealing off the main entrance using hardware cloth. You may use staples to fasten the cloth.

For the cloth to fit perfectly, it ought to be of the correct length. As you get going with the preparation exercise, ensure you keep the bees calm by smoking them. Also check if the boxes have gaps that require sealing between them.

If there are any, cover them using duct tape. Study the weather properly to avoid losing your bees through overheating. If it is hot outdoors, remove the outer cover of the hive and use a screened cover for the inner section.

Another vital thing you should not miss is to keep the hive board in a fastened position during transportation. Do not store it in a manner that allows uncontrolled movement when in transit. Too much rattling may make the bees agitated, putting your life and that of those near you in danger should the seals break. The best staples for fastening are the 2 inch versions. However, many beekeepers use ratchet straps instead of staples.

Movement is certainly bound to be pretty stressful for your bees. The best thing to do would be to hit the road once you are through with the loading process. Make sure there is someone by your side to assist you during the exercise. It is not uncommon to see things take a nasty turn for solo movers.

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.

One technique that helps bees adapt to new environments is sequestration. To do this, do not remove the entrance screen upon arrival. Let it remain in place for at least 72 hours once you arrive. This way, the bees will attempt to recondition themselves for their next foraging trip. However, this procedure usually leaves them agitated, so avoid doing it during hot weather.

Bees are mostly inactive during winter and in rainy seasons. This is the perfect time for relocation. A leafy branch should act as a good entrance cover then. With this knowledge, you should enjoy a smooth process.




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