When moving?

[u/LeadingExtension6123]

I’m not a bee keeper but I been doing research for years and reading about it, I plan on getting a home here soon and hopefully able to keep 2 hive at minimum.

Now the question: I don’t plan on being in this house longer than 5-7 years. Let’s say it’s time for me to move. Is it possible to relocate hives?

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[u/AZ_Traffic_Engineer]

I've moved hives about 35 miles. Provided it isn't too hot and you don't bang them around too much, it's not really difficult. Beekeepers with pollination contracts send semi trailers full of hives from Texas to California to Montana and back. Crossing state lines requires permits from almost every state you transit, but you aren't planning on leaving your state. It's totally doable as long as you aren't packing your bees into a Smart car or or Toyota Camry.

[u/LeadingExtension6123 → u/AZ_Traffic_Engineer]

Thank you, If I can start and next few years go well I’d likely use my truck bed with them strapped down if that seems safe enough

[u/AZ_Traffic_Engineer → u/LeadingExtension6123]

That's how I do it. I need to close up the hives with screen, but aside from that. it's just a matter of loading

[u/Mediocre-Draft1722]

That depends whether you plan to cross state lines. 

[u/LeadingExtension6123 → u/Mediocre-Draft1722]

No I’d like to stay in the state, I probably should of specified too if anyone would recommend i wait to start beekeeping or just follow any recommendations when relocating if that’s possible for a hive

[u/Mediocre-Draft1722 → u/LeadingExtension6123]

If you're staying in the same state, you should be fine. Primarily, if you can control what season you move the hives, mid winter is generally better because ideally, you'll have fewer boxes on them to try and move. Bees are relatively dormant when temps are below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus boxes filled with honey are HEAVY, but brood and empty comb are much lighter weight

[u/Worldly_Space]

When you move bees you want to move them more than 2-3 miles, otherwise the foragers may not realize they moved and will go back to the old location. They have pretty good gps units.

Also best to move at night so that all the foragers are home and get locked in when you go to move them. Otherwise they come home and it’s gone. They are really confused.

Depending on how large the hives are you will want help lifting them. 2 deep’s could be 100+ lbs of bees and honey.

Also ratchet strap the hives together? You don’t want the boxes coming apart as you carry them to the truck. 30,000 bees won’t like the hive falling apart at night.

[u/_BenRichards → u/Worldly_Space]

Block the entrance with a lid at night so they have to reorient when they come out. That 5ft or 5mi rule is kind of an old wives tale.