At some point every beekeeper has to move bees—across the yard, across town, or across counties. It’s not complicated, but there are a few details that matter.
One of the basics is the “3-foot / 3-mile rule.” Bees orient to a location. Move a hive a few feet and they’ll usually find it. Move it a few miles and they’ll re-orient. Move it somewhere in between and you can confuse them badly.
Closing the entrance properly is just as important. We often use paper towels—they breathe, they’re simple, and they work.
Strapping the hive securely matters too, especially when boxes are full and heavy. And for the really heavy ones, a hive lifter saves your back and makes the job safer for everyone.
I shot a short video showing how we handle moves in the field. You can watch it here on YouTube or below on Facebook.