Tips for moving beehives safely

Moving a beehive safely is a valuable skill for beekeepers. Many beekeepers ship their colonies every season to help farmers pollinate their crops, while others just want to change the layout of their backyards. Whatever your reason for relocating your bees, there are a few key things to keep in mind. From keeping a hive to protecting your own health, here are some important tips for moving a hive safely.

1. Take care of yourself

Beekeepers can really get to know and love these fascinating creatures, but that doesn't change the fact that they sting! Safety should always be a top priority when moving hives. This may upset the bees, so keep your beekeeping gear to prevent holes or tears. Even after the hives have been controlled, wear your protective clothing, such as beekeeping suits, gloves or hats and veils in case the bees leak out. In addition, when moving, you want to make sure that the hive is safe and cushion the bumps in the move. If the crate or hive breaks, many restless bees will come out.

2. Protect the beehives

When you move the hive, you don't want to separate or lose any colony members. It is recommended to move the hive after sunset or early in the morning, as worker bees return to the hive for the night. Be sure to close the entrance to the hive before moving it so that your bees cannot escape. You can also wrap the hive in a beehive net to ensure that no bees are left behind. Also, be sure to secure LIDS, frames, and other honeycomb components to avoid rattling or cracking during transport.

3. Don't overheat the bees

Temperature control is one of the most important functions of a hive. Bees work hard to make sure the inside of the hive is not too hot or too cold. As we mentioned, when you transport a hive, you must seal off the entrance to keep the colony safely inside. Unfortunately, this also means trapping heat inside, making it harder for bees to properly ventilate the space. One of the important tips for moving a hive safely and avoiding overheating is to move after sunset or first thing in the morning, when the temperature is low. You can also block the entrance of the hive with a mesh screen or other cover that allows air circulation. If you are moving a hive in a vehicle, be sure to use air conditioning or roll down the Windows to prevent the hive from overheating.

4. Plan to move at night

During the day, temperatures can rise to dangerous levels for bees. Also, the more people you have on the road, the higher chance you have of traffic risks and accidents. Staying out of traffic is also dangerous for bees. The darkness of the night makes it harder to see what you're doing, but there are fewer variables that make you lose control. Daytime is the natural foraging time for bees, so nocturnal activity does not disrupt their natural need to leave the hive and helps ensure that you do not leave any bees behind.

You must have proper hive equipment when handling and transporting your colony. We can help you find the equipment, gear or advice you need to care for your bees.