How To Move a Beehive to a new Apiary -

[@Sweepy372]

very close to the nectar source indeed! you will harvest a lot from these hives for sure.

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Fred, I hope so, I haven't yet checked all of the colonies for strength but I know I have some good ones here. Stewart

[@Sweepy372]

Here the rapeseed really makes the bees crazy and they produce a lot. I guess the honey from these contains more dextrose than fructose and have a tendency to crystallize real quickly - even within the comb.

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Fred, Yes it is the same here, the make up of the nectar is glucose/fructose in approx. 1:1 ratio and the glucose is the catalyst for granulation as I understand it. I'm looking forward to seeing how the bees react to it. Stewart

[@benhddj9412]

Thanks for doing this video im taking on a couple of hives and moving them has been worrying me im abit more relaxed about the idea now

[@tanyaparker-callsign.kk7ic238]

I’m so excited we assembled a beehive earlier this summer and today found a beehive built by bees under our covered porch will move them to their new home 🏡.

[@mal1857]

That OSR has really grown since your last video at that apiary! Nice to hear the blackbirds and wood pigeons. Are the frames the "cold way" or the "warm way" in the hives? My guess is the "warm way" because the frames are facing the direction of travel. :/.

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi MAL, The OSR was growing really well, it looks like a healthy field of plants. I have my frames the "cold" way, it's just how I was shown when I started and I've stuck with it ever since. Stewart

[@millwoodservicing9434]

Great you tube as ever, if you move over night how long to leave them taped up pls?

[@jay71512]

was expecting to see half a dozen stuck to the tape when ya pulled it off lol guess its not sticky enough to trap them.

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Jay, It's really interesting because the tape is really sticky but perhaps once the bees realise they can't get out they just stay clear of it. Out of all the tapes not one had a bee stuck to it and it is very rare that any do get stuck. I think it helped that it was quite cold still. Stewart

[@patrickwalsh6873]

Maybe they don't like the smell of the adhesive ? Anyway, good video Stuart, thanks.

[@snagglepuss1]

How would this be different if it were the heat of summer?

[@SafireEliteTV]

I'm going to move a few colonies a few hours away, would you recommend to put mesh on the entrances, that will impede the bees from leaving but having air circulation?

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi SafireEliteTV, I have my bees on open mesh floors mostly so they have plenty of ventilation. If it were going to be warm I would use a travel screen on top as well and spray them with a water mist occasionally. Good luck with the move. Stewart

[@thomasszozda5247]

Do you buy or make your hives?

[@katharineliston2566]

What time of year was this? Is there an optimum time of year to move them?

[@jewels0191]

Hi Stewart, Another great video! Just a question I wanted to ask about blocking the entrance. I am relocating my hive, not a great distance and I noticed you used duck tape, which is a great idea as I was using sponge, my only concern is, would any bees stick to the tape on the inside? Sorry if this seems like a stupid question. Kind regards Julie

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Julie, Thanks for the comments and question. When I use the duck tape the bees seem to instinctively know to stay away, I have had one or two casualties but generally very few. I do use foam in the entrance too and sometimes both depending on distance and road type, bumpy lanes get the belt and braces treatment! Stewart

[@jewels0191]

Hi Stewart, Thank you for the reply. I will try that now 😊! Hopefully my bees will know to stay away too! Julie 😊

[@Mookiethedog]

Yo I live in a rural setting In the west of Canada. My neighbours are about 1 km away and I’m giving them a hive. I assume they will try and fly back to my place?? Any tips?? Thank you

[@michaelsmith7425]

Put a branch or a bunch of grasses across the entrance. Not close enough to hinder them, but enough to cause them confusion. They will redo their orientation flights and accept the new placement.

[@Mookiethedog]

@@michaelsmith7425 yo.....thanks

[@DeadEyeRabbit]

Another yr or two picking those boxes up that high, you'll be ready to switch to a 8 frame Lang

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Rabbit, I know what you mean, they are actually quite light at this time of year. I wouldn't lift a box full of bees and honey like that and normally get some help with the heavier ones. Stewart

[@DeadEyeRabbit]

How do you move a colony 30 ft?

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

If I had to, it would be 10 x 3ft moves over time. Stewart

[@scottmaschino1927]

Just going through some older ck I haven't watched yet. I wanted to add a comment on a bit of safety no one ever seems to mention. There is an open space right under the hive that makes it a perfect nesting area for spiders. I have a field of alfalfa o get too put my bees on every summer. Under almost every hive I move from there at end of season, I find black widow spiders. Usually a single female with her egg sack, sometimes 2 of them. Since we normally don't get to look under a hive before moving it, I strongly recommend never picking one up without a good pair of leather gloves. While I don't mind getting stung too much, a poisonous spider bite is not on the list of things a want to treat. Especially with that field being close to 50 miles from the closest hospital.

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Scott, Thanks for commenting. I have to say, I am so pleased I don't have to check under my hives for black widow spiders, at least not as yet! How on earth do you cope with them? Where about's are you beekeeping? I'm in Norfolk, UK. Stewart

[@scottmaschino1927]

Stewart, I'm in Oklahoma USA. I try to avoid them, but when I have to move my hives in the fall, I don't have much choice. Any time I see them, I smash them with my hive tool. Spider and egg sack alike. They like dry cool places, so under a hive is prime housing for them. If I have to get under a hive for any reason I'm careful to not just reach under. And never with bare hands.

[@loriearmbruster3375]

I'm just now viewing this video but I see that you don't keep the bees closed in for 72 hours which seems to be the general advice I've heard. No issue with the bees reorientating correctly so they don't fly back to the original location? Your move was 20 minutes away so while it is a longer distance, sounds like it would be within 5 - 8 miles.

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Lorie, Thanks for commenting. I never close my bees in for longer than I need to. I usually move the bees more than 3 miles which tends to be more than enough distance to prevent them flying back to their original site. Stewart

[@loriearmbruster3375]

Thank you for your quick response, Stewart. As it turns out after just over 24 hours secured in their hive at their new location 7 miles away, I was standing there watching the hive when suddenly a couple bees flew by me! Seems they found a tiny crack in one of the supers and chewed it so that some could squeeze through. They were very stressed being locked in (a lot of buzzing and I could hear them actually bumping into the sides of the supers), so I opened the robbing screen and out they came to begin re-orientating and instantly calming down. Now I know. I also liked how you staggered the hives so I'm going to do the same to help stop the drifting and robbing--plus it looks nice! Everyone seems to line them up in a row... that's obviously a benefit for the beekeeper, not the bees.

[@Pippa1272]

When can you inspect the hive after a longish move. We moved a hive 40kms last night (transferred them into a bigger box first). It’s a new hive to me... When can I check them?

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Pippa, I would leave them for a few days to let them settle down and get their bearings. Not sure of your location but remember to make sure it's warm enough to carry out an inspection. Stewart

[@Pippa1272]

Thank you Stewart! This hive is very aggressive, so I’m chomping at the bit to requeen and sort them out. I’m in Australia. Any tips for requeening a feisty hive? Thanks again! Pippa

[@jeanselmes7458]

Hi Stewart, have managed to log on at last. As a new and very 'senior 'new beekeeper, I liked your welcoming letter......but please remove humble from the text......that is unnecessary.

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Jean, I've changed the message as you suggest, I think it was my original attempt at a thank you note so with that removed, I am very pleased to have you join our growing community over at Patreon. Stewart