Move hives at night or early morning

Schedule hive relocations for after dusk or before dawn, when foragers have returned and the colony is fully inside the hive. Close the entrance once bees have settled, then load and transport while the colony remains calm and contained.

Why It Works

During daylight, thousands of forager bees are out in the field. Moving a hive during the day leaves those foragers behind, weakening the colony and creating clusters of confused bees at the old site. At night or early morning, cooler temperatures and darkness keep bees inside and less prone to defensive behavior.

Tips

• Close entrances using foam strips or entrance reducers after dark when all foragers are back
• Use a red headlamp while working; bees cannot see red light and will stay calm
• If a daytime move is unavoidable, close the entrance the evening before and move at first light
• Allow bees to settle for at least 30 minutes after sunset before sealing the entrance