Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: dfizer on May 02, 2013, 12:56:49 pm

Title: Split information
Post by: dfizer on May 02, 2013, 12:56:49 pm

When a split (nuc) is moved away from the apiary what would be the soonest it could be moved back home?  I moved mine about 4 miles away from the location of the original hives but - at some point will need to move them back here to put them into the 10 frame deep hive.  Also I'm fearing that they fill the nuc and run out of space.  I have heard to leave them "away" for 6 weeks however I am sure they will be completely full of brood before that.  Can I move them back here before that?

Please advise.

David

Title: Re: Split information
Post by: Robo on May 02, 2013, 01:00:54 pm

2 to 3 weeks should be fine.

Title: Re: Split information
Post by: sterling on May 02, 2013, 01:24:33 pm

If you use mostly nurse bees in the nuc you don't even have to move them. If you make an even split and have older bees in the split you would need to move them. What I have read is a bee has a four day memory.

Title: Re: Split information
Post by: hardwood on May 02, 2013, 01:33:42 pm

I move mine back after 3 days.

Scott

Title: Re: Split information
Post by: dfizer on May 02, 2013, 09:32:52 pm

Really that quickly.  And I am assuming you have not had any issues with them returning to the original hive?  Interesting!

David

Title: Re: Split information
Post by: hardwood on May 02, 2013, 09:59:15 pm

I've not had a problem with them returning to the original hive but on occasion , before their new queen is mated, smell the other queens in the yard and move in with them.

Scott

Title: Re: Split information
Post by: Michael Bush on May 03, 2013, 01:37:32 pm

I shake some extra bees in and never move them anywhere...

Title: Re: Split information
Post by: don2 on May 03, 2013, 02:38:20 pm

If your hive is strong enough to split to began with, make your new split up in a 10 frame hive box. place it where the old one is and move the old parent hive about 10 ft away. It already has plenty brood and house bees, and a queen. The new split will receive the older field bees returning to their known position. with in a few weeks the colonies should be equal. :) d2

Title: Re: Split information
Post by: dfizer on May 03, 2013, 10:03:28 pm

Quote from: Michael Bush on May 03, 2013, 01:37:32 pm

I shake some extra bees in and never move them anywhere...

I think I am going to try this approach - I will move them to another location on my hive stand - about 6 feet away - facing the opposite direction of the parent hive and see what happens. 

Thank you for the advice.

David

Title: Re: Split information
Post by: dfizer on May 05, 2013, 09:20:01 pm

I did move them across the yard (about 140 yards) and faced them in a completely different direction - this seemed to do the trick.  They didn't all go back to the parent hive and all seems ok.

I don't think I'm moving bees away from the yard again.

David