Rehoming a Honey Bee Hive

Hey everyone,

To cut to the chase, I’ve read that after rehoming a honey bees hive, they should be locked in for 24-72 hours until they adjust/acclimate themselves so as not to attempt to return or get lost. But then I’ve seen other replies on social media pages saying this angers the bees and is unnecessary. Wanted to come here to get the scoop from the Permies.

As always, I appreciate any advice. I got the lucky chance to take a colony of honey bees (Italian) plus accessories for too good a deal for me to resist. It’s always been an aspiration of mine to keep bees so I decided to take the opportunity. I understand this comes with a lot of responsibility that I don’t take lightly. Coming here to get some insight from the community.

I’ve done my basic internet research, I’ve got a yard full of a clover trio and in the process of getting a more robust pollinator garden of native (North East US) plants.

Anywho, thanks in advance!

I was taught to plug the entrance up with grass clippings so they have to work a bit to get out. If they're not out in 3 days remove the plug for them. Seems to work.

I have installed bees three times in TBH hives and never closed any entrances. They remained in the hives and started working right away

Iv never kept them in before when moving a established hive. We moved our hives 20 miles when we moved out of town and just moved them at night. We didn't have any issues with losing any as far as I could tell. They are smart little bugs and seemed to treat the relocation like a swarm. When Iv moved a hive across the property they will return to there old spot but they are not loaded down with pollen like they are trying to return. They are coming empty and ready to collect stuff. My theory is they are either using the old hive location as a land mark or looking to see if there's any honey left to raid from there old spot. If youv ever had a hive decide to leave a spot on there own, they will return to move all there honey and pollen to there new place if you don't interfere. At least these are my experiences.  Iv only had bees for 6 years now and your milage may vary.

I've heard one should move bees 'Two feet or two miles'; in other words less than two feet or more than two miles.

On the other hand I moved two hives this spring about 30 feet, then put grass or brush across their entrance for a few days, which worked well.

Also, I recommend https://www.beesource.com/ as a beekeeping forum.

Brian
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