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Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Follow Up on the Bee Move

Finally today I went over to move the homeless hive to the place where their sisters have relocated.  There were about 500 bees in the box - some may have been left behind and even though we put greenery on the entry way to get the bees to re-orient, some may have left the new location to go foraging and returned to the old home place about a miles away.

The bees seemed happy and active in their new location:


I gathered up what we left the other night (screened wire, inner cover, bungee cords) before situating the hive box.

Then I place the hive box entrance facing the two hives.  There is no queen in this box, just errant bees.  Some are probably from one hive and some from the other.  The way I placed the box made it easy for the bees to go to their chosen home box.







First I set it there with the top off and the screened wire still attached.  Then I looked up at the storm clouds and thought I didn't want to ruin my equipment.

So then I took the screened wire off the entry and put the telescoping cover sort of catty corner, exposing the two frames with the most bees on them.


















And this was how I left it.  I hope the bees leave this box and go home to whichever Mama is theirs.
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3 comments:

  1. Anonymous2:44 PM

    Linda, I'm curious as to why you oriented the hive entraces to face the privacy fence. I'm assuming to make working them from the rear easier?

    Beth

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  2. Linda T11:45 PM

    Hi Beth - the hives are facing east, but more importantly there are neighbors all around who are not necessarily used to or thrilled to have the bees. Facing the fence requires the bees to fly up above the fence and gets them higher than most humans as they start their foraging. We did this at the Stonehurst Inn for the same reason. I hadn't thought about the working them from the rear aspect, but that will also be a plus.

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  3. Anonymous10:17 AM

    Ah, okay. Since you can't see the whole area, it made me wonder. I'd always read that you should give them a clear area to fly out at the entrance, but that makes sense. :-)

    -B.

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