Hobbies And Interests
Preparation
Before beginning your long distance move make sure to close the bees inside each hive and secure the hive components with duct tape, hive staples, or other materials. This will keep your bees safe and should ensure that the hive will not come apart during your move. Be sure not to secure the hives too tightly, though, or else the bees will not be able to breathe.
Moving Suggestions
Hives are often awkward, heavy, and full of unhappy bees, so take care when moving them. Wearing a full bee suit and gloves is recommended but a veil would also suitable for protecting your face, neck, and shoulders. If you move your hives often, even across short distances, a metal hive or other heavy duty carrier would be a wise investment.
If you do not have help moving your hives, ensure your vehicle is close by with the back or trunk doors already open, in order to speed up loading. Before beginning your drive, ensure that each hive is secured with straps, bungee cords or other material so they will not shift, break open or tip over.
Final Considerations
Remember not to keep your bees on the road for too long. If you are traveling more than three or four hours, especially in hot weather, consider packaging your bees and shipping them through the post using a shippable bee box from your local apiary.