Hive moving HELP

[Kate Kane]

Hello - my husband & I are in quite a bind. We have a 1.5 year hive (started from a nuc in June 2015) on the near west side of Madison - happily thriving at our soon-to-be former rental house. It is a ten-frame standard hive w/ two deeps and one medium super - not filled.

While attempting to move it last night, my husband & his friend dropped it, sending bees (but thankfully not boxes since they were strapped together) everywhere. The hive has been set upright on the ground as of about 15 minutes ago but we're leaving it this evening to let the girls settle. We'd like to re-try moving the hive tomorrow (6/30) night, but need some assistance. Willing to pay for time /expertise. Please contact me at (845) 532-4652 or (608) 261-9671.
Thanks,
Kate

[Matthew Hennek]

Hey Kate

I can help but won't be available until 630 tomorrow.

My method would involve bringing 6 nuc boxes, putting all the frames in them, moving and then reassembling. No heavy lifting, no risk of tipping. The only risk is a slightly higher risk of pinching the queen, but no more than a full hive inspection would carry.

Matt

[Mary Celley]

You cannot  move those bees until it is dark.  At 6:30 you will have foraging bees everywhere and then left behind.  Then they are crabby.  Unless you have closed them up early this morning before they are flying you have to wait until dark.  If you closed them up they need a screen on top and bottom for venting. 

[Tim Aure]

About 3 weeks ago I moved a hive and noticed returning bees. 

I bought a queen and made a now productive nuc.

You could also just take the nuc and recombine with the moved hive🤔

Sent from my iPhone

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[Paul Zelenski]

So, a couple things. I find it easiest to close up the hive in the middle of the night (after dark) and then move it the next morning. But that might just be because my wife goes to bed early so moving it in the night doesn't work there. You do have to wait until after dark to close up the hive, or you will,lose the foragers that are still out foraging. If you have a screened bottom board, you can simply close all the entrances with duct tape. If you have a solid bottom board, you should use screen to close the entrances. Once it is closed up, I put a ratchet strap around the hive to hold everything together during the move. Works like a charm. I haven't dropped one, but imagine it could survive a drop even if i did.

When you dropped the hive, did you put it back where you dropped it or in the original location. If you didn't put it back in the original location, you might find foragers returning to the original location. You can put a deep in place (even if just foundation) to collect up the foragers and recombine with the hive in the new location. Or put the hive back in place and delay moving another day.

How late are you up? I have a commitment in Madison on the West side until probably 10:30ish. I could help after that if you're around. I even have a ratchet strap and hive carrier I could bring. Let me know.