[geoirishbox]

I captured a swarm on tuesday March 31. They seem to be doing well. I am feeding with 1 to 1 syrup. I need to move the bees to a nice plateform that I built across the yard. But Kashia at Beekind told me I can only move them either 3 miles or 3 feet. Can't I move them once at night when they are all inside?

 

[BjornBee]

The problem will be the field bees will remember where the old location is. You can do things like keeping them confined for a couple days. After three days, place some grass clipping and a big branch over the entrance. Not enough that the bees can't get out, but enough that they will need to re-orient themselves.

You still may have some bees back at the old site but it will not be many.

 

[Iddee]

If the temps are above 60 at night, you can go ahead and move them. There may be some hang out at the old site the first night, but will find the hive within a day or two and stay there.

You can reduce the number returning to the old site by doing as Bjorn suggested above.

 

[Charles]

Bees are creatures of habit, and remember where their home is based on the surrounding area, that's where the 3 mile 3 foot saying comes from. At 3 feet it's easy for them to see the move, 30 feet and they're lost. 3 miles and they have totally new surroundings and will reorient themselves.

Forcing a re-orientation like Bjornbee suggests should work just fine...

 

[Iddee]

Even tho they are creatures of habit, they are also communal. If their home is nowhere to be found, they will search until they find a neighbor and take up there. So if their home is the nearest one at 100 yards, they will find it when they give up and start circling for a new one. They may camp at the old site a night or two, but will eventually find a hive to go into.

 

[geoirishbox]

Thanks so much for the replies. I feel better now. The new spot is much better for them. I was real lucky last week, as I captured two swarms. The second one is on the platform, and doing very well. When I move the first one it will be about 4 feet to the right with a space in between for a work table. The spot where the 2d hive is located has bushes and then a fence behind it and gets sun earlier in the morning and shade in late afternoon.

PS I got my first sting, not so bad. I am totally new at this. This forum is the greatest. Thanks to everyone who put up the site.+