From time to time the question of how to move a hive of bees comes up and
a lot of the old saws get trotted out.
 
However, moving bees is not something that you can make hard and fast
rules about.  Much depends on the circumstances, and if you are willing to
observe, the bees will tell you how to proceed.
 
I remember a friend -- to whom I lease 100 hives or so -- telling me about
rescuing yards of bees from rising flood waters at mid-day.  He recruited
neighbours and they moved the hives full of bees in singles and doubles on
trailers without veils or smoke as the water rose.
 
Today I had a chance to test the truth of that tale.  We got a call that
the water was up to the entrances of some of our hives in a yard near
here.  I loaded my trusty Swinger, and headed out.
 
When we got there, the three pallets were submerged in the shallow water.
Bees were flying about since it was sunny, just after noon, and the
temperature was suitable for shirtsleeves.  I had noticed a bit of pollen
being brought in at other yards we visited earlier in the day.
 
The brood boxes of the hives themselves were clear of the water, but some
floors were immersed.  Near the hives was a pallet of deadout brood
chambers waiting for pickup; this had been a very poor wintering yard.
 
I proceeded to pick up each pallet of bees with the forklift and move
slowly to shore.  I was afraid I might hit a chuck hole submerged in
the muddy water and dump a pallet.  I had the pallet forks on since I had
been using a bucket and not had the time to mount the mast (which is much
more steady and has a hold-down clamp).  I had my veil on -- but not for
any real need.  No bees ever approached me, and my hands were never
attacked.
 
The new shoreline was a slightly inclined grassy slope - there was no
brush in the area at all.  As I hauled the pallets to shore, flying
bees followed each pallet up the bank to the spot where I placed the
hives.  The water was sufficiently deep that my helper got water over her
boots while following the forklift, so I guess I'd better check that I
didn't get water in the drive axles.
 
After I had moved all the hives, a few bees were still circling the brood
chamber stack, which remained out in the stream.  I don't know whether
they had been robbing it, or were just using it for orientation, but when
I retrieved it and placed it near the new hive locations, they lost
interest in it.
 
A few minutes after all was rescued, the bees were coming and going
normally from the hives although there was more hovering than normal.  I
doubt that they all went into their own hives, but they all went in
somewhere.  When we left, the yard was pretty well back to normal, and no
bees were seen to be flying out over the water where the hives had been.
 
FWIW
 
Allen